Yellowknife (Sep 29/04) - The president and chief operating officer of Century 21 is balking at proposed changes to licensing for real estate agents in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories.

Calling it a misguided initiative, Donald Lawby said he is going to write to the minister and deputy minister of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) regarding the issue.

Donald Lawby (left), president and chief operating officer for Century 21 and Willy Chidowe, the franchisee for Century 21 in Yellowknife. - Stephan Burnett/NNSL photo

Laura Gareau, superintendent of real estate for Municipal and Community Affairs, says preliminary meetings with representatives from the Yellowknife Real Estate Board have raised issues surrounding the education standards for real estate professionals.

The topic has been raised "on and off for a couple years" and MACA is just now completing an interjurisdictional survey, which studies other provinces and territories' educational standards for real estate professionals, said Gareau.

Gareau said the current educational standards are "outdated" and don't reflect current trends.

"We're in the process of drafting a discussion paper, which will be made publicly available to anyone who wants it," said Gareau.

Some of the discussion surrounds the possibility of having existing real estate agents requalify for their credentials.

Gareau will be asking for feedback on what to do with new licensees and how to address existing real estate agents.

"Will we grandfather? Will they be required to do new licensing? There'll be no final decision until we hear back from the industry," said Gareau.

Usually, when there's a change in legislation existing real estate agents are granfathered, said Lawby.

The Century 21 head also said he found it odd that there has been some discussion to use the British Columbia system of educating real estate agents and not the Alberta system.

"I would have thought the Alberta system would have been used," said Lawby.

The discussion paper is expected to make its way into the hands of Minister Michael McLeod over the next couple weeks.

"We're hoping to hear back from the industry prior to Christmas," said Gareau.