What my worthy competitor says about my positions and my responses
My worthy opponent says: "My opponent’s mandate, attacks the very foundation of our system calling for radical ideas which will divide organized real estate and threaten the progress we have made as a profession to date, and undermine the MLS system" Michael Manley says: "I do not plan to tamper or radically change our agent MLS system. Our MLS system forms the backbone of our MLS marketplace and its protection has been TREB’s number 1 priority for many years. My plan calls for us to make change to our data that appears on the public MLS.ca website that will create a fair marketplace for all our agents and not just benefit agents that have property listed for sale.
I don’t think that being fair to all TREB members is a radical Idea. My opponent is misrepresenting my intentions in order to create fear among the membership. The IDX concept that I am proposing has to do with the fair use of our data on MLS.ca and has nothing to do with the operation of our MLS system. Most consumers and even some TREB members are confused about the differences between MLS.ca and our MLS system. I have been deeply involved with our MLS system and the public MLS.ca. I do understand the differences. Real Estate Board IDX’s have already been made available in London, Ontario and in BC. They have been well received by member agents in those regions." My worthy opponent says: "If the past 10 years of a prosperous market has taught us anything, it is to "stay the course", always building, improving and progressing on our blueprint and NOT to start an unnecessary process of radical, divided and dangerous change on a proven, successful trusted system" Michael Manley says: "If we only look to the past and don’t look to see were we are currently headed we will make no changes whatsoever. This is not leadership nor is it progressive. This style of leadership is driving forward while looking backwards. Making changes to the way our TREB data appears on the public MLS.ca making it fair to all our members is not a radical idea and has nothing to do with the way our MLS System and marketplace works". My worthy opponent says: "It is a well known fact that in the majority of cases, it is the co-operating salesperson who sells the listing. While there are cases on ‘double enders’ this is not with high frequency". Michael Manley says: "A study from 2003 of 2100 sales in the Toronto area shows that 24% of those sales were multiple representation sales of which 9% were what we would call true double-enders. 24% leads to a lot of confusion and 9% leads to a lot of conflict of interest. While I was a director of the MTC (develops and operates MLS.ca) I was amazed at how many respected Canadian REALTORS thought that confusing the consumers was good for our business. I for one do not believe confusing consumers is good for our business". My opponent says: "MLS.ca is an excellent tool for the consumer and its sole objective is for the purposes of advertising THE LISTING. It is the Listing Broker who incurs the marketing and advertising costs, etc. and it would be counterproductive and divisive to alter what MLS.ca site stands for" Michael Manley says: "MLS.ca is an excellent tool for the consumers, but it could be so much better. MLS.ca is an advertising web site paid for equally by all Realtors and populated by data that belongs equally to all Realtors, yet only agents with active listings get the benefits. This is not fair. Also using MLS in the name degrades the value of our true MLS system especially for buyer agents. MLS.ca now stands for confusion and unfairness and I believe that if we don’t do something about this soon we will see many problems arise for our industry. Looking out the rear window is not a leadership solution. It is MLS.ca that is structured to perform in a divisive way. I understand there are those who feel that making MLS.ca fair to all is not in their own best interest, as they are the current beneficiaries of the unfairness". My worthy opponent says: While I acknowledge a multiple offer situation is frustrating to both the buyer and the co-operating salesperson there are industry standards and they exist in the MLS rules and regulations and in the Real Estate Brokers Act. Michael Manley says: "TREB has one MLS rule regarding offers and that says; for a property to be on our MLS System it must be available for offers. RECO has one rule regarding multiple offers and that says; that if there are multiple offers you have to inform all agents with offers how many there are. That’s it for our Industry standards regarding multiple offers". My worthy opponent says: In conclusion, I believe the current MLS system and its technological enhancements are a unparalleled service. My opponents mandate is divisive in nature and threatens the successful running of the Toronto Real Estate service. The issue is not one of salespersons versus salespersons but one of progress and talent Michael Manley says: "When I raced motorcycles I learned not to look backwards too much. One time I spent too long looking backwards wondering what had happened to my competitor who I had just passed for 1st place. He had some mechanical problem. When I looked up I was headed straight for a gravel pile at 80 MPH. This was not good. I believe that to keep ahead of our competitors and to keep on track we have to understand the past see where we are now have some vision of a better future". If you believe that the past is as good as it can get, vote for my opponent. If you believe the future can be even better than the past, vote for Michael Manley. Every vote counts.
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