The Competition Bureau of Canada has successfully secured a second court order to advance its investigation into the Quebec Professional Association for Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) and its subsidiary, Société Centris. This investigation centers on allegations of anti-competitive conduct related to restrictions on real estate data sharing.

The Bureau is examining whether QPAREB's practices are harming competition within the real estate brokerage services market and hindering the emergence of innovative online brokerage services in Quebec. The need for further information has prompted the Bureau to seek records regarding QPAREB's relationships with business partners and data on real estate transactions in the province.

The Federal Court's order mandates QPAREB to produce the requested records, which are crucial for the Bureau to understand the competitive landscape and the implications of QPAREB's practices. This ongoing investigation follows a previous court order obtained in 2023, indicating the Bureau's commitment to addressing potential anti-competitive behavior in the sector.

Historically, the Bureau has taken action against similar practices, as evidenced by a 2016 ruling from the Competition Tribunal in favor of the Bureau against the Toronto Real Estate Board. That case involved anti-competitive conduct that limited access to historical home sales data and innovative real estate services for brokers and consumers.