Monday, April 10, 2006
VIREB REALTORS win national political action award
News Release: March 30, 2006
NANAIMO, BC - The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board's (VIREB) political lobbying efforts have won the national PAC (Political Action Committee) Team Award for 2005, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) in Ottawa.
"This truly reflects the growing importance VIREB puts on grassroots government action and relationships, at the local level," explains President Darrell Paysen, who traveled to Ottawa along with Vice President Jennifer Lynch, Government Relations Chair Jim Stewart and Executive Officer Bill Benoit.
"This award truly reflects the efforts of VIREB staff and volunteers over the last year."
Adds CREA President Alan Tennant, in presenting the award to VIREB and to the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board: "Both of these winners have an impressive list of federal PAC activities over the last year. They held constituency meetings with MPs. They communicated federal issues effectively, both to MPs and to their own members."
99 real estate boards and associations make up CREA. To be considered for the PAC Team Award, VIREB outlined a busy year of political activism and achievement in advancing national REALTOR issues. This included meetings with all Members of Parliament in their local riding offices, distributing VIREB's monthly member and media communications, and copies of the VIREB Buyer Profile (demographic survey of Buyers compiled annually from MLS stats).
"We also presented MPs copies of the Clayton Research Study findings on the significant economic impact of real estate," Benoit adds. "We presented CREA's Pre Budget Submission to the MP's in fall 2005, and then we created a Government Relations staff position to work with the volunteers."
The list of VIREB's political activity also included Stewart lending his name as a candidate in the federal election, a "No Vote, No Voice" sign being placed on the highway in front of Board office, and VIREB partnering with several local Chambers of Commerce in hosting 9 all candidates meetings across the region.
"By doing these kinds of activities, PAC remains a valuable source of grassroots strength by establishing and maintaining active and open channels of communication between CREA's 82,000 members and MPs, at the local riding level," Lynch says.
Stewart says with the new federal government set to resume Parliament, they returned from the CREA event armed with three key REALTOR issues to discuss with MPs this spring.
"Over the next 6 weeks we will be meeting with MPs James Lunney, Jean Crowder and Catherine Bell in their local riding offices," he says.
"Our industry is calling on the new government to consider increasing the RRSP withdrawal limits for the Home Buyers' Plan to $25,000, recommending implementing a capital gains rollover provision, and protecting and enshrining property rights in the Constitution."
VIREB's political activity also includes provincial efforts at the annual Government Liaison Days in Victoria in late April.
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VIREB represents approximately 1,010 licensed REALTOR members in more than 80 member offices on Vancouver Island (North of Victoria).
REALTOR is a trademark identifying real estate professionals who are members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). REALTORS subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices as set out by CREA. MLS is a cooperative marketing system used by Canada's real estate boards.
For more information, please contact:
Darrell Paysen, President, 250-748-5000
Drew Harris, Communications Coordinator, 250-390-4212
NANAIMO, BC - The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board's (VIREB) political lobbying efforts have won the national PAC (Political Action Committee) Team Award for 2005, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) in Ottawa.
"This truly reflects the growing importance VIREB puts on grassroots government action and relationships, at the local level," explains President Darrell Paysen, who traveled to Ottawa along with Vice President Jennifer Lynch, Government Relations Chair Jim Stewart and Executive Officer Bill Benoit.
"This award truly reflects the efforts of VIREB staff and volunteers over the last year."
Adds CREA President Alan Tennant, in presenting the award to VIREB and to the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board: "Both of these winners have an impressive list of federal PAC activities over the last year. They held constituency meetings with MPs. They communicated federal issues effectively, both to MPs and to their own members."
99 real estate boards and associations make up CREA. To be considered for the PAC Team Award, VIREB outlined a busy year of political activism and achievement in advancing national REALTOR issues. This included meetings with all Members of Parliament in their local riding offices, distributing VIREB's monthly member and media communications, and copies of the VIREB Buyer Profile (demographic survey of Buyers compiled annually from MLS stats).
"We also presented MPs copies of the Clayton Research Study findings on the significant economic impact of real estate," Benoit adds. "We presented CREA's Pre Budget Submission to the MP's in fall 2005, and then we created a Government Relations staff position to work with the volunteers."
The list of VIREB's political activity also included Stewart lending his name as a candidate in the federal election, a "No Vote, No Voice" sign being placed on the highway in front of Board office, and VIREB partnering with several local Chambers of Commerce in hosting 9 all candidates meetings across the region.
"By doing these kinds of activities, PAC remains a valuable source of grassroots strength by establishing and maintaining active and open channels of communication between CREA's 82,000 members and MPs, at the local riding level," Lynch says.
Stewart says with the new federal government set to resume Parliament, they returned from the CREA event armed with three key REALTOR issues to discuss with MPs this spring.
"Over the next 6 weeks we will be meeting with MPs James Lunney, Jean Crowder and Catherine Bell in their local riding offices," he says.
"Our industry is calling on the new government to consider increasing the RRSP withdrawal limits for the Home Buyers' Plan to $25,000, recommending implementing a capital gains rollover provision, and protecting and enshrining property rights in the Constitution."
VIREB's political activity also includes provincial efforts at the annual Government Liaison Days in Victoria in late April.
- 30 -
VIREB represents approximately 1,010 licensed REALTOR members in more than 80 member offices on Vancouver Island (North of Victoria).
REALTOR is a trademark identifying real estate professionals who are members of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). REALTORS subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practices as set out by CREA. MLS is a cooperative marketing system used by Canada's real estate boards.
For more information, please contact:
Darrell Paysen, President, 250-748-5000
Drew Harris, Communications Coordinator, 250-390-4212
