22 August 2018

The battle started back in 2011, when the Competition Bureau (a federal watchdog protecting consumers by investigating business regulations), put under question TREB’s rules preventing the publication of such data. According to the Bureau, this policy doesn’t support competition and digital innovation.

Meanwhile, TREB, Canada’s largest housing board, representing more than 50,000 agents in Ontario, said that posting this information would be a violation of consumer privacy.

In April 2016, the tribunal was ruled in the bureau’s favour with the Federal Court of Appeal later supporting the decision. That’s why TREB addressed the Supreme Court recently.

Today, if you want to find home sale data, you need to use real estate agents and brokers services, as they have access to the MLS database. Some people prefer online services like Teranet or local land registry offices, which provide the necessary information for a certain fee.