After two years of virtual programming, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) was thrilled to welcome more than 400 PAC Reps back to the nation’s capital for our 37th annual PAC Days.
Each year, we welcome PAC Reps from across the country to meet with their Members of Parliament (MPs) to participate in advocacy efforts and discuss how we can work together to make housing more accessible in Canada. This year, more than 130 MP meetings took place, where PAC Reps advocated for two main recommendations to address housing supply across the entire housing continuum:
- the creation of a permanent national housing roundtable; and
- leveraging bilateral infrastructure agreements with provinces and territories by adding a housing clause.
Learn more about our REALTOR® recommendations at REALideas.ca.
Over the course of three days (October 16-18), CREA hosted various panelists and speakers to discuss federal politics, Canada’s housing crisis and how to be effective advocates. The ever-popular media panel featuring Chantal Hébert, Don Martin, and Rob Russo discussed how the issue of supply is being taken up by all the political parties and shared what they thought was going to happen in Canadian federal politics. On Day 2, MPs Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal), Matt Jeneroux (Conservative), Jenny Kwan (NDP) and Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Bloc Québécois) provided a glimpse into each party’s priorities and what life is like working on the Hill. We were also fortunate to hear from political insiders, Amanda Alvaro, Kathleen Monk and Tim Powers.
In addition to discussing politics and our REALTOR® recommendations, three incredible speakers took to the stage on Day 3 to discuss what real estate professionals can do to build inclusive and environmentally sustainable communities.
First up was Sandy Hudson, co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Canada, who outlined ways we can all stand against racism and make our industry and communities more inclusive.
Each year, CREA also takes time to highlight the work being done by boards and associations. The Outstanding PAC Team Award honours a board and/or association demonstrating initiative and enterprise in advancing REALTOR® issues federally. This year the award was presented to the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, with the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington and the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® named as runners-up.
Catch more highlights by searching #CREAPAC2022 on social media.
Next year will mark the 38th edition of PAC Days and we hope to see you there. If you’re interested in becoming a PAC Rep, you can talk with your local board or association.
Stay tuned to REALTORActionNetwork.ca for ongoing federal affairs updates.
