RECA is committed to ensuring that it consults with its stakeholders in accordance with its consultation policy when it is considering changes to the standards of practice. Likewise, as a real estate industry leader in Alberta and across Canada, RECA also participates regularly in consultations carried out by other bodies, such as the Alberta government. Below are some of RECA’s consultations, as well as RECA responses to other consultation initiatives.
RECA is proposing amendments to the Real Estate Act Rules that would allow brokerages to deposit funds in a brokerage “other account.” This account could be used to segregate commissions from which a brokerage could pay professionals’ commissions. If a brokerage sets up the other account as a brokerage trust account, this trust account would not be a RECA-regulated trust account and it could not hold consumer deposits.
The proposed amendments would also clarify that the Real Estate Assurance Fund was and is intended as a consumer protection fund for consumers only.
RECA wants to hear from real estate professionals and consumers about the proposed changes.
Review the Consultation Paper – Proposed Amendments to Real Estate Act Rules 96 and 97 to inform and assist you in providing your feedback.
The deadline for written feedback is October 30, 2018. Send your feedback to:
or mail your feedback to:
Real Estate Council of Alberta
Suite 202, 1506 11 Ave SW
Calgary AB
T3C OM9
Fax: (403) 228-3065
The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) is reviewing mortgage brokerage standards and Rules to enhance consumer protection, ensure our standards of practice are strong, and to document current practices in the mortgage brokerage industry. We want to know what our stakeholders think of the proposed changes.
In February 2018, RECA posted the Mortgage Brokerage Proposed Standards of Practice and Rule Changes Consultation Paper. The formal consultation period for this initiative ended on May 9, 2018. RECA is reviewing the feedback it received. Please watch for future updates.
In June 2018, the Mortgage Brokers’ Advisory Committee met to review the feedback from the consultation survey, town hall meetings, and written submissions. After the June meeting, RECA staff and a subcommittee began adjusting the original proposals to reflect the feedback received while remaining consistent with the original objectives. The MBAC will meet again, in the Fall of 2018, to consider the revisions and determine next steps.
In December 2014, the Government of Alberta passed legislation that will require licensing for condominium managers. When the legislation takes effect, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) will be responsible for setting standards, licensing and regulating individuals who provide condominium management services.
In fall 2015, RECA launched a consultation to gather feedback from condominium industry stakeholders, including condominium managers, boards, owners and consumers on the proposed regulatory model for condominium managers. That consultation process included a consultation paper and town-hall meetings in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Ft. McMurray, Lloydminster, Edmonton, Edson, Grande Prairie, Calgary and Red Deer. Stakeholders were invited to respond to the consultation paper in writing by December 9, 2015 and attend one or more of the town hall meetings.
The Real Estate Council of Alberta’s (RECA) Condominium Manager Implementation Advisory Committee (CMIAC) recently completed Phase 1 of the Condominium Manager Regulation Consultation. As a result of this consultation, CMIAC provided, and Council approved, recommendations in six areas:
Licensing recommendations
Education recommendations
Bonding or real estate assurance fund recommendation
Trust account audit & review program recommendations
Professional liability insurance recommendation
Unlicensed condominium manager activity and licensed condominium manager misconduct recommendation
RECA’s consultation on and implementation of Real Estate Act amendments for the regulation of condominium managers has been on hold pending the Government of Alberta’s completion of Regulations under the Condominium Property Amendment Act.
RECA’s Condominium Manager Implementation Advisory Committee met on February 20, 2018 to review the status of RECA’s project. When the Government of Alberta concludes its work on Stage 2 Regulations under the Condominium Property Amendment Act, RECA anticipates it will start its Phase 2 consultations. It is anticipated regulation of condominium managers under the Real Estate Act will take place after those Phase 2 consultations are complete.
If you would like information about the Government of Alberta’s progress on CPAA Regulations, please visit the Service Alberta website at: http://www.servicealberta.ca/Consumer-condominiums.cfm.
The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) undertook a comprehensive review of the Real Estate Act in late 2012 prior to beginning consultation with a wider group of stakeholders. Some of the amendments RECA put forward in its first consultation paper (December 2012) were not ultimately put forward to the Government of Alberta as a result of feedback from industry professionals.
At a high level, the amendments RECA has put forward focus on:
For more information on the recommendations put forward by RECA, click here.
To read the Consultation Report on the Real Estate Act amendments submitted to Service Alberta, click here.
While the Government of Alberta had originally indicated the Real Estate Amendment Act would be scheduled on the legislative agenda for the Spring 2014 sitting of the Legislature, legislative priorities have since changed and it is unclear when this Act may move forward.
