annual - Centris

ANNUAL
REPORT
QFREB
2014
QUÉBEC
FEDERATION
OF REAL ESTATE
BOARDS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2
Patrick JuanédaMontréal
President
Luce FecteauQuébec
Vice-President
Denis Laporte
Treasurer
Co-opted member
Robert B. BrièreAbitibi-Témiscamingue
Christian Royer
Centre-du-Québec
David BourgonEstrie
Réjean LabarreHaute-Yamaska
Suzie DemersLanaudière
Francine SoucyLaurentides
Hugo GaillardetzMauricie
Errol MongrainOutaouais
Camil SimardSaguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Normand RacineSaint-Hyacinthe
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 3
the implementation of a continuing education program: brokers’
free choice of training sessions, a diversity of providers of training
services, a simple mechanism for recognizing training activities to
ensure healthy competition (without a fee system), a high level
of flexibility, a recognition of prior training and accessibility in terms
of cost.
PATRICK JUANÉDA
I am pleased to present this overview of activities that shaped the
year 2014 for the Québec Federation of Real Estate Boards (QFREB).
It was during this year that I had the honor of becoming president
of the QFREB Board of Directors. As part of this mandate, I am
very happy to be working on issues at the provincial level that aim
to protect the interests of real estate brokers across Québec and
promote their expertise.
Hot Topics
The most important issue faced by the QFREB in 2014 was the
dossier between us and the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité
du travail (CSST). The CSST wants to subject the real estate industry
to its coverage and we have made numerous representations to that
organization in order to express our disagreement. We also focused
our efforts on other stakeholders, including the Labour Minister, in
order to defend the interests of our members and make our point
of view known. Several initiatives with government bodies are also
in progress and further developments in this dossier are expected in
2015.
In December 2014, an application for authorization to institute a
class action was filed on behalf of the QFREB against DuProprio for
misleading advertising and unfair competition. For many years now,
DuProprio has been systematically engaging in deceptive advertising
campaigns, and has been misleading Québec consumers about the
so-called savings associated with DuProprio’s services and about the
supposed advantages of its real estate services compared to those of
brokers. Among other issues, DuProprio presents real estate brokers
in a negative manner, systematically denigrates them and questions
their competence and integrity. Our Legal Affairs Department is
following this dossier very closely, as the issues are directly related to
the protection of members’ interests.
Promoting the Professionalism of our Members to our
Different Audiences
Concerned about the issue of continuing education, the QFREB
participated in the consultation on this topic organized by the
Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du
Québec (OACIQ), in the spring of 2014. Our organization submitted
a brief in which we listed the main principles that should surround
We believe it is crucial to send a clear message to consumers that by
choosing to do business with a real estate broker, they are choosing
competence and are reducing the risks associated with a major
transaction. Continuing education has the ability to reinforce the
positive image of a highly professional industry.
Furthermore, the QFREB continued to position itself as the reference
for real estate statistics in Québec with members as well as the
media. Our Market Analysis Department continued to publish its
various newsletters and economic news, along with studies on topics
that are relevant to the real estate industry, and presented the annual
Fenêtre sur le marché conference for a third consecutive year. This
province-wide event also took place in different regions.
In terms of advertising, the QFREB initiated its first ever ad campaign
in 2014. Under its leadership, the province’s real estate boards and
the OACIQ joined the QFREB in creating a province-wide advertising
campaign. The objective of this initiative was to increase consumer
awareness of the risks of buying or selling a property without a
broker, and to highlight the added value that brokers bring to a
real estate transaction. According to a study conducted by Léger
Marketing in 2014, this campaign was very well received by the
public and the message that a real estate transaction is a complex
operation that should be carried out with a real estate broker was
understood by consumers.
The Substantial Contribution of our Volunteers
At the end of a year marked by significant events that promote
the interests of our members, I must highlight the exceptional
contribution of those brokers who give generously of their time as
part of the various QFREB committees. Together with our current
team of professionals, they are a vital force that give our organization
the impetus to evolve. I therefore extend my warmest thanks to all
those who support our mission in one way or another.
Patrick Juanéda
President
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
ACTIVITY REPORT
4
MARKET ANALYSIS
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
The Market Analysis Department of the Québec Federation of
Real Estate Boards presented its annual Fenêtre sur le marché
conference for a third consecutive year in 2014. This province-wide
event was held in January at the Centre Mont-Royal in Montréal,
and attracted more than 450 brokers and industry stakeholders.
Québec’s Minister of Finance and the Economy at the time, Nicolas
Marceau, took part in this event. The conference was also held in
Québec City for the second consecutive year, on January 21, and
brought together 150 participants at the LaScène Lebourgneuf
auditorium.
For the Government Relations Department, the year 2014 was
marked by the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
(CSST) dossier, which aims to subject the real estate brokerage
industry to its coverage. Because agencies have always been
exempt from making CSST contributions for well-founded
reasons, the QFREB intensified its representations throughout the
year to the CSST, to members of its board of directors, to its senior
management team and to Labour Minister Sam Hamad, in order
to show the entire real estate industry’s strong opposition to this
coverage. The Government Relations Department will continue to
educate government stakeholders about the adverse economic
and organizational effects of implementing this plan.
Composed of three economists, the Market Analysis team is
responsible for producing and publishing various economic
newsletters and articles for the intention of QFREB members. Its
main publications are The Barometer, the monthly Window on the
Market newsletter, and Economic News. These publications have
been registering a steady increase in readership every year.
In 2014, the Department published four new studies on current
topics through its Word From the Economist publication.
These studies are entitled: Resort Properties in Québec; Are
Intergenerational Homes Gaining in Popularity in Québec?; Plex
Resale Market: Retrospective Analysis of the Past Ten Years; and
Condominiums: Average Price per Square Foot.
More than a dozen presentations were given to real estate boards
and agencies in 2014. Brokers and various industry stakeholders
are increasingly calling on the expertise of the Market Analysis
team for their studies and statistics. The Department is recognized
for responding quickly to requests, particularly from the media.
Finally, there were many reports, articles, and radio and TV news
stories broadcast across Québec, as the QFREB market analysis
team has become an essential reference for information on the
real estate market.
In 2014, the Department also began working on a review of
the Real Estate Brokerage Act, and on a possible reform of the
provisions in the law affecting condominiums.
At the provincial level, the QFREB continued to promote its
demands for measures that encourage first-time buyers to purchase
a property, as they are the driving force of our real estate market.
In this context, the QFREB supports a transfer tax relief for firsttime buyers, and recommends that the scale of this controversial
tax be revised. In addition, excellent links were established with
the Finance Minister’s Office following the change of government
in April 2014.
The Government Relations Department also contributed
significantly to the development of a memorandum on the
implementation of mandatory continuing education, as part of the
OACIQ consultation on this issue. Following the announcement
on the implementation of mandatory continuing education, the
QFREB quickly had its Condo Training Program accredited, and is
the only program to date that meets all of the requirements of
continuing education in terms of credits.
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
LEGAL AFFAIRS
PROVINCIAL COLLABORATION COMMITTEE
The QFREB’s Legal Affairs Department is mainly responsible for
protecting the interests of its members, meaning real estate
brokers, real estate agencies and real estate boards, as well as
acting as trustee for the protection of the Centris® database. The
Department also protects the intellectual property of industry
trademarks such as Centris®, MLS® and REALTOR®.
The Provincial Collaboration Committee is composed of 12
practicing real estate brokers representing each of the province’s
real estate boards, and is committed to promoting brokers’
professionalism and facilitating their collaboration. The members
of this Committee can recommend to the QFREB Board of Directors
any modification deemed appropriate to the organization’s
business rules.
In terms of protecting members’ interests, the Department was
involved in various cases, including two against the practices of
DuProprio. Following the closure of the QFREB’s complaint to the
Competition Bureau, the Federation filed a class action against
DuProprio in the Superior Court of Québec for false and misleading
advertising and unfair competition. In another case between the
OACIQ and DuProprio, the QFREB asked the Superior Court of
Québec for intervener status, in order to make representations on
behalf of QFREB members. The OACIQ is suing DuProprio in order
to have this company’s activities declared as real estate brokerage
activities.
The Legal Affairs Department also conducted investigations into
dubious business models and led various interventions against
people who were denigrating the industry. These illegal activities
include companies that perform brokerage activities without having
the required licence; companies that perform illegal interprovincial
real estate brokerage activities; cases of misrepresentation or
misleading advertising; or the denigration of members. In 2014,
a total of 31 cases related to these types of issues were processed.
In its role as trustee, the Legal Affairs Department is responsible for
protecting the Centris® database to ensure that brokers’ data are
used for their designed purpose. In this context, the Department is
responsible for the negotiation and signing of specific agreements
for the distribution of data and, in 2014, 19 agreements were
signed. Furthermore, the Department handled seven cases relating
to the development of data access policies, and was active in three
cases involving the protection of real estate brokers’ public listings
against misappropriation by third parties, which is known in the
industry as “Web scraping”.
The Department also provides legal support to real estate boards
in areas such as contract law, information technology and the
provisions of Canada’s anti-spam legislation.
The Committee met three times in 2014. It submitted to the Board
of Directors a new policy making it mandatory for each member
to publish an identification photo in their profile beginning in
2015. Furthermore, only photos taken within the past five years
will be authorized for uploading in the broker’s profile. Additional
recommendations are being examined for implementation in
2015.
In May 2014, the Provincial Collaboration Committee appointed its
new president, Mr. Stéphane Arès, from the Chambre immobilière
de Saint-Hyacinthe.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
The Professional Practices Department is responsible for handling
cases of dispute between real estate agencies and brokers from
the same agency, outside of the traditional legal process. In
2014, the Department opened 83 conciliation and arbitration
files, representing claims for compensation totaling $774,622.
Throughout the year, QFREB conciliators held 94 conciliation
sessions which took place, on average, within 42 days after
receiving the petitioner party’s file. This period was 49 days in
2013. The Department also held 14 arbitration sessions, six more
than in 2013.
The highlight of 2014 for the Professional Practices Department
was the creation of an intensive two-day training session in
December that was attended by the thirty or so QFREB arbitrators
and conciliators. This training session, given by a lawyer, focused
on the current context of the real estate industry and the legal
aspects regarding the right to compensation.
Several conferences were offered by the Department, including
training on identifying the efficient cause of sale and exploring
jurisdiction surrounding conciliation and arbitration in cases
of dispute. The Professional Practices Department has proven
to be more relevant than ever due to the new Code of Civil
Procedure which strongly encourages conflict resolution through
dispute settlement services that are outside of conventional legal
proceedings.
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
5
QUÉBEC REAL ESTATE BOARDS
6
Chambre immobilière
de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Chambre immobilière
du Centre-du-Québec
Chambre immobilière
de l’Estrie
Gilles Langlais
General Manager
Jocelyne Lambert
Executive Assistant
Johanne Beaudoin
Executive Assistant
33 Horne Avenue, Suite 203
Rouyn-Noranda, (Québec) J9X 4S1
445 Brock Street
Drummondville, (Québec) J2B 1E2
19 King Street West
Sherbrooke, (Québec) J1H 1N4
Tel.:819-762-1777
Fax: 819-762-4030
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:819-477-1033
Fax:819-474-7913
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:819-566-7616
Fax:819-566-7688
Email: [email protected]
Chambre immobilière
de la Haute-Yamaska
Chambre immobilière
de Lanaudière
Chambre immobilière
des Laurentides
Lise Desrochers
General Manager
Daniel Lafrance
General Manager
Lyne Froment
General Manager
45 Centre Street, Suite 3
Granby, (Québec) J2G 5B4
765 Manseau Blvd.
Joliette, (Québec) J6E 3E8
570 des Laurentides Blvd.
Piedmont, (Québec) J0R 1K0
Tel.:450-378-6702
Fax:450-375-5268
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:450-759-8511
Fax:450-759-6557
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:450-240-0006
Fax:450-240-0096
Email:[email protected]
Chambre immobilière
de la Mauricie
Greater Montréal
Real Estate Board
Chambre immobilière
de l’Outaouais
Lise Girardeau
General Manager
Éric Charbonneau
Chief Executive Officer
Chantal Legault
General Manager
1275 des Forges
Trois-Rivières, (Québec) G8Z 1T7
600 chemin du Golf
Île-des-Soeurs, (Québec) H3E 1A8
106 Sacré-Cœur Blvd.
Gatineau, (Québec) J8Y 1E1
Tel.:819-379-9081
Fax:819-379-9262
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:514-762-2440
Fax:514-762-1490
Toll-free: 1 888-762-2440
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:819-771-5221
Fax:819-771-8715
Email:[email protected]
Chambre immobilière
de Québec
Chambre immobilière
du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Chambre immobilière
de Saint-Hyacinthe
Richard St-Pierre
General Manager
Carlos Cordeiro
General Manager
Martine Richard
Executive Assistant
990 Holland Avenue
Québec, (Québec) G1S 3T1
2655 du Royaume Blvd., Suite 140
Jonquière, (Québec) G7S 4S9
P.O. Box 667
Saint-Hyacinthe, (Québec) J2S 7P5
Tel.:418-688-3362
Fax:418-688-3577
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:418-548-8808
Fax:418-548-2588
Email:[email protected]
Tel.:450-799-2210
Fax:450-799-2230
Email:[email protected]
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
PERMANENT COMMITTEES
7
MANAGEMENT TEAM
PROVINCIAL COLLABORATION COMMITTEE
Paul Cardinal
Manager, Market Analysis
Stéphane Arès, Saint-Hyacinthe
President
Catherine Levasseur
Assistant Manager, Professional Practices
Hélène Charette, Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Élizabeth Rebetez, Centre-du-Québec
Roger Champoux, Estrie
Jacqueline Poirier
Executive Assistant, General Management
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Céline Charbonneau, Haute-Yamaska
Patrick Lapalme, Lanaudière
Marc-André Pilon, Laurentides
Yvan St-Pierre, Mauricie
Carol Pedneault, Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
President
Nathalie Bégin, Montréal
Richard Beaumier, Montréal
Vice-President
François Poliquin, Québec
Robert Cliche, Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Stéphane Bisson, Outaouais
Thierry Desbiens, Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Jean-Luc Beaurivage, Centre-du-Québec
David Bourgon, Estrie
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
Lise Comtois, Lanaudière
Denis Laporte, Lanaudière
Patrick Juanéda, Montréal
President
Michel Liboiron, Laurentides
Denis Bureau, Montréal
Lise Giradeau, Mauricie
Pierre Denault, Laurentides
Clément Depelteau, Montréal
Gratien Dubé, Québec
Mathieu Savard, Montréal
Yves Dufresne, Montréal
Liliane El Helou, Outaouais
Édith Gagnon, Outaouais
Claude Bélanger, Québec
Isabelle Gingras, Lanaudière
Claude Laliberté, Saint-Hyacinthe
Daniel Guertin, Saint-Hyacinthe
Alain Laplante, Estrie
AUDIT AND FINANCE
Denis Laporte, Lanaudière
President
Luc Lemay, Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Louis Levasseur, Mauricie
François Paquin, Montréal
Réjean Labarre, Haute-Yamaska
Christian Royer, Centre-du-Québec
Francine Soucy, Laurentides
Camil Simard, Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
Normand Racine, Saint-Hyacinthe
Réjean Blanchette, External Advisor
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | QFREB
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
December 31, 2014,
with comparative figures for 2013
20142013
Assets
Current assets $1,482,029 $1,742,890 Capital assets
6,741 7,904
1,488,770 1,750,794 Liabilities
Current liabilities 667,048 726,375 Net assets 821,722 1,024,419
$1,488,770 $1,750,794 OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31, 2014,
with comparative figures for 2013
Revenues
Membership
Dues - Provincial ad campaign
Other Expenses
Provincial ad campaign
Salaries and employee benefits
Administrative fees
Legal fees Transfers to boards and cost of services
Conventions / Meetings
Communications and public relations
Professional fees
Directors’ fees
Rent
Services to members Amortization
(Deficiency) excess of revenues
over expenses
20142013
$2,024,358 $2,245,008 1,902,608 –
375,070
356,175
4,302,036 2,488,496
2,034,836 789,790 283,917 324,706 346,696 152,913 140,263 35,493 80,839 62,309 251,808 1,163 4,504,733 $(202,697) –
790,583
302,623
88,016
344,213
159,591
101,153
43,889
88,686
63,946
244,300
1,074
2,228,074
$260,422 On behalf of the Board,
Patrick Juanéda
Denis Laporte
PresidentTreasurer
The complete version of the financial statements is available at www.qfreb.ca, in the members’ section.
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
8
QUÉBEC FEDERATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS
600 chemin du Golf
Île-des-Sœurs, Québec, H3E 1A8
Telephone: 514-762-0212
Toll-free: 1-866-882-0212
Fax: 514-762-0365
Email: [email protected]