CBC
Realtors to flex political muscle
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba Real Estate Association wants to enter the political arena by taking up what members call "quality of life" issues such as rent control and water quality.
Lorne Weiss, who heads up the group's political-action committee, says says some issues are getting lost in the shuffle, and it's time a group came forward to represent those concerns. He says his association will not be a carbon copy of other business-oriented lobby groups such as the Chambers of Commerce or the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
"We will be perhaps less economic focused than they are. 'Quality of life' includes issues like safety in our communities, accessible housing for all members of our community," he says.
"When you start dealing in the political arena, one of the things that politicians will always look at is how many votes do you represent?
"I can tell you that even on the issue right now of education tax, with the strategic alliances we've made with other groups, we probably represent in the neighborhood of 40,000 to 50,000 votes. So that starts to become a significant number and then it becomes time for those who are creating the legislation to sit up and take notice."
Weiss says his group may form allegiances with a number of different groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, depending on the issue.
The Real Estate Association in British Columbia is the only other Canadian real-estate body adopting the program, but Weiss expects more to follow.
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