CREA AGM kicks off today: The biggest moments to watch for

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is hosting its 2026 Annual General Meeting today, bringing members from across the country to Ottawa to elect directors and vote on key motions, which have implications for each of its nearly 160,000 agents. 

The meeting begins with an open forum at 8:30 a.m. EDT, followed by the formal meeting after lunch. This year’s agenda includes motions regarding potential fee increases to offset rising costs and replenish the legal fund. Members will also consider subtle changes to the way the Realtor code is enforced. 

Four proposed motions 

Cost of living adjustment 

CREA is recommending a two per cent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to membership dues, as revenue, which peaked between 2022 and 2023, has materially declined, with inflation-adjusted revenue in 2025 sitting 6.2 per cent below 2022 levels. CREA CEO Janice Myers told Real Estate Magazine in February that the adjustment would apply until CREA’s board of directors deems it no longer necessary. 

Because membership dues of $310 have not increased since 2013, their real dollar value has eroded by roughly $104 per member when adjusted for inflation, said Myers. For years, membership growth was sufficient to offset inflation, but that is no longer the case.

CREA’s membership totalled 158,656 at the end of 2025, down from about 165,000 just a few years ago. While new member numbers surpassed expectations last year – 12,728 versus a budgeted 11,500 – terminations were the highest they’d been in at least a decade, at 23,851.

Legal defence fund special assessment 

A motion will also be put forth for a two-year, $30-per-member annual special assessment (totaling $60) to replenish CREA’s legal fund. This would raise approximately $9 million to cover expected litigation costs over the next two years.

CREA spent $4 million in 2024 and $1.8 million in 2025 on legal costs tied to Sunderland and McFall litigation and the Competition Bureau investigation, and the association is accounting for another $2 million in legal expenses this year.

Realtor Code

Five amendments to the enforcement of the Realtor code are also on the table. 

They include a proposal that would make referring complaints about members to their local board or association optional rather than mandatory, due to a formal referral not being necessary in all situations. 

It is also recommended that appeals be handled by a smaller group of five board members instead of the full board of directors. This change is intended to make the appeals process more efficient and easier to manage.

New standards for associations

Changes are also proposed to ensure that provincial and territorial associations operating in regions without local boards are held to the same standard as boards. Many provincial associations likely already meet CREA’s core standard requirements even though they are under no obligation to do so. Nevertheless, “implementing the proposed rule changes will serve to future-proof CREA’s core standards framework,” reads the meeting agenda. 

If approved, the rules would, for example, require associations to consist of a minimum of two real estate firms with no common ownership, as well as compel them to maintain a class of membership for individual real estate practitioners.

Director elections

Members will also elect three Directors-at-Large from a slate of nine candidates. The elected directors will serve two-year terms on CREA’s national board.

The meeting will also feature the presentation of the 2026 Realtors Care Award and the Association Executive Network Award of Excellence.

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