B.C. realtors voted down a proposal to amalgamate the six real estate boards across the province on Tuesday.
A special general meeting brought realtors and the B.C. Real Estate Association together to vote on the proposed amalgamation into a single new organization.
“Over 67 per cent of realtors from the participating boards voted in favour of the initiative, clearly there is a realtor appetite for change,” said Garry Gratton, president of the South Okanagan Real Estate Board.
“The members of the South Okanagan Real Estate Board voted in favour of the proposal to amalgamate into a single new entity. The proposal did not garner enough votes at other boards to enable this initiative to move forward.”
Gratton said three boards voted in favour of the amalgamation and three boards didn’t reach the required voting threshold. Therefore, the proposal did not succeed. Gratton said realtors recognize there are many opportunities to continue to improve to provide clients professional service delivery.
“The reorganization proposal was intended to improve the support structure known as Organized Real Estate, which is the governing and administrative body responsible for the daily operation and function of the real estate industry across the province, said Gratton. “As it is, we are constantly striving and planning for the future and how we can best work together to serve the public, our clients, to the best of our professional abilities.”
Gratton said he couldn’t expand on which boards were against the proposal, or why, at this time. He said an overview of the vote would be provided to media at a later date once post-vote discussions take place.