TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 09/02/11 -- The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) today responded to the latest reply made by the Competition Bureau, regarding TREB's development of a Virtual Office Website (VOW) policy.
Comments made by the Competition Bureau are misguided and inaccurate. The Bureau continues to ignore the privacy concerns of Ontarians, and is pursuing a course of action that will not only open personal information of consumers on the Internet, but will negatively impact the quality of the Multiple Listing System®," said Richard Silver, President of TREB.
Contrary to what the Commissioner has indicated, the privacy concerns of consumers will be adversely affected. Should Commissioner Aitken get her wish, Ontarians who use the current MLS® can expect:
-- Their contact information openly accessible to all on the Internet;
-- Private information about the details of the property ownership made
public; and
-- Unrevealed personal and private details of the contract made public;
"The Competition Bureau has completely failed to explain how it is possible to release private consumer information on the Internet without unnecessarily sacrificing consumer privacy rights," said Mr. Silver. "The Commissioner continues to posture, but consumer privacy rights are too important for this kind of recklessness."
TREB will continue to fight for the protection of consumers and on behalf of its Members and consumers to ensure a high-quality and secure Greater Toronto real estate system.
Greater Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They are governed by a strict Code of Ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Over 31,000 TREB Members serve consumers in the Greater Toronto Area.
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Contacts:
Media Inquiries:
Toronto Real Estate Board
Mary Gallagher
Senior Manager Public Affairs
(416) 443-8158
maryg@trebnet.com
