The Competition Bureau of Canada has successfully negotiated a consent agreement with the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) aimed at addressing competition concerns regarding access to real estate data in Quebec. This agreement is designed to enhance real estate brokers' access to essential data, fostering innovation and competition in the local market.

The consent agreement mandates QPAREB to implement a real estate data feed, which will allow brokers to access and utilize data more effectively. This data feed will enable brokers to automate information extraction, integrate data into their systems, and develop new digital tools and services, ultimately benefiting consumers.

Prior to this agreement, access to real estate data was limited to brokers, which restricted competition and innovation. The new data feed will provide broader access to real estate data, facilitating the development of advanced tools such as property comparison services and automated market analyses.

This initiative builds on the Bureau's previous efforts to promote competition in the real estate sector, including a notable case against the Toronto Real Estate Board that highlighted the importance of data access for fostering innovation and improving consumer services.