Blasts, gunfight in Indonesian capital

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(Earth is rising over the Moon's Surface), Source: https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateSA5000/photos/a.899877783394135.1073741829.899009183480995/920077631374150/?l=734b9eef72 Happening Now: Live coverage of Jakarta blasts Blasts, gunfight in Indonesian capital Suicide bombers, gunmen kill at least six in Indonesian capital Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, killing at least six people, police said, in an attack on a country that Islamic State had threatened to put in its "spotlight". While suspicion is likely to fall on Islamic State or its allies, police said they did not know who was responsible and President Joko Widodo urged the public not to speculate on who was behind the attack. Police said there were at least six explosions and they had shot dead three of the attackers and captured four. Three suicide bombers were suspected to have been involved while three policemen and three civilians were also killed, they said. The main thrust of the attack was on an office block and it began with a blast outside a Starbucks cafe on its ground floor. "The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road. There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him," said a Reuters photographer. Read more. by jamillah.knowles 8:00 PM Map locating sites of blasts and a gunfight that took place in Jakarta by jamillah.knowles 8:10 PM A witness describes a shooting during the deadly gun and bomb assault by militants in the centre of the Indonesian capital. Yiming Woo reports. by jamillah.knowles 9:21 PM Share Make a comment Options Live Updating HISTORY OF ATTACKS Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, the vast majority of whom practise a moderate form of the religion. The country saw a spate of militant attacks in the 2000s, the deadliest of which was a nightclub bombing on the holiday island of Bali that killed 202 people, most of them tourists. Police have been largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells since then, but officials have more recently been worrying about a resurgence inspired by groups such as Islamic State and Indonesians who return after fighting with the group. Alarm around the world over the danger stemming from Islamic State rocketed after the Paris attacks and the killing of 14 people in California in December. On Tuesday, a Syrian suicide bomber killed 10 German tourists in Istanbul. Authorities there suspect the bomber had links to Islamic State. Among those arrested in Indonesia's crackdown late last year was a member of China's Uighur Muslim minority with a suicide-bomb vest. Media said two other Uighur suspects were on the run. Indonesian security forces have also intensified a manhunt for a militant leader called Santoso, regarded as Indonesia's most high-profile backer of Islamic State, in the jungles of Sulawesi island. Santoso had threatened to unleash attacks in Jakarta by jamillah.knowles 9:53 PM CAIRO, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Islamic State carried out the attacks in Jakarta earlier on Thursday, a news agency allied to the group reported. "Islamic State fighters carried out an armed attack this morning targeting foreign nationals and the security forces charged with protecting them in the Indonesian capital," Aamaaq news agency said on its Telegram channel. Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, killing at least six people, police said, in an attack on a country that Islamic State had threatened to put in its "spotlight". by jamillah.knowles 9:23 PM #KamiTidakTakut is trending on Twitter. It means "We are not afraid". Dan Ilic @danilic #kamitidaktakut we are not afraid 1:27 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite Gabrielle Dunlevy @gabdunlevy Thanks to all who've been in touch. We at AAP Jakarta are safe. #KamiTidakTakut https://t.co/9guxODV57K 11:29 AM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite Tom Fletcher @TFletcher #KamiTidakTakut 11:35 AM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite Haslinda Amin @haslindatv Hashtag #KamiTidakTakut trending in Indonesia after explosions #WeAreNotAfraid 12:35 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite Will Millard @MillardWill @MillardWill: Thinking of all my friends in Jakarta and Indonesia. Tetap kuat teman saya. #KamiTidakTakut 2:06 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite Kamasean Matthews @kamasean07 The whole point of terrorism is to spread terror, to make us afraid. Together, with God, we're unbeatable.#KamiTidakTakut 12:29 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite 1 of 6 by shashank.chouhan edited by jamillah.knowles 9:14 PM Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemns the attack in Jakarta that killed at least six people. Rough cut (no reporter narration). by jamillah.knowles 9:14 PM Jakarta police chief says no foreigners among group of attackers. by jamillah.knowles 9:14 PM Islamic State carried out Jakarta attack "Targeting foreign nationals and security forces." - Islamic State-allied news agency by jamillah.knowles 9:08 PM Breaking News: Jakarta police chief says Islamic State ‘definitely’ behind attack by jamillah.knowles 9:06 PM Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the heart of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday morning. At least six people died, including five militants.. Casualty numbers may change as official data is updated with fresh reports from the scene. Below is a timeline of the events as Reuters reported them. All times local (GMT +0700 hours). 1049 - An explosion was heard near a Starbucks cafe close to United Nations offices in central Jakarta, according to eyewitnesses. 1057 - A second explosion was heard in central Jakarta, Reuters eyewitnesses said. 1100 - A police officer was shot near the site of an explosion, according to domestic TV reports. A Reuters eyewitness said gunfire and several explosions were heard. There were six explosions, local TV reported. 1108 - A Reuters eyewitness said three people died and there was a gunfight. A national police spokesman said the explosions were suspected to have been carried out by a suicide bomber. 1113 - The central bank continued a scheduled monetary policy meeting despite the blasts. Indonesia's stock index .JKSE and currency IDR fell after the explosions. 1118 - Security forces were seen entering the bombed Starbucks cafe in central Jakarta, said an eyewitness. 1143 - Police said around 10-14 gunmen were involved in the attacks. 1201 - A police spokesman said three police officers and three civilians had died in the attacks. 1217 - More gunfire was heard in central Jakarta, according to a Reuters eyewitness. 1221 - Police told domestic TV that there was no explosion in West Jakarta suburb of Palmerah, and no hostages were taken. They also said gunfire had ceased, and no one was arrested. 1231 - Police said they believed two suspected perpetrators fled in the direction of West Jakarta. 1237 - A further explosion was heard near the site of the attacks, a Reuters reporter on site said. 1300 - Indonesia's President Joko Widodo condemned the attacks and issued condolences to victims. He urged the public not to be afraid of "acts of terror like this". He cut short his trip to Java to return to Jakarta where he will hold a meeting on the attacks. 1304 - Indonesia's intelligence chief said there were no indications yet that the Jakarta attack is related to Islamic State. 1322 - A police spokesman said police had shot dead four suspected militants who were part of the attacks, and the area was being secured. 1322 - Starbucks said one customer was injured in attacks, and all employees were safe. The store that was attacked and all other Starbucks stores in Jakarta will remain closed until further notice. 1351 - The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in 11 months by 25 basis points. 1409 - A central bank official said markets have calmed after the Jakarta attack. 1435 - Police said they suspected at least three suicide bombers. 1438 - Police arrested four suspected attackers involved in the blasts. 1522 - Indonesia's security chief said five militants were killed, including one foreigner, and that "everything is under control now". by jamillah.knowles 9:03 PM Indonesian police say, one Canadian man died in the attacks in Jakarta by jamillah.knowles 8:56 PM Indonesian police walk on a street past police chalk markings showing shell casings and debris following an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside by jamillah.knowles 8:31 PM Indonesian police advance during an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. Five militants, including one foreigner, were killed in the gun and bomb assault in central Jakarta, Indonesia's chief security minister said on Thursday. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside by jamillah.knowles 8:23 PM Indonesian security forces point their weapons during an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. Five militants, including one foreigner, were killed in the gun and bomb assault in central Jakarta, Indonesia's chief security minister said on Thursday. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside by jamillah.knowles 8:23 PM No indication Islamic State behind Indonesia attack - intelligence chief There were no indications that Islamic State militants were behind a gun and bomb attack in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Thursday, the head of the national intelligence agency told Reuters. "This is definitely terrorism but there are no indications yet that it's ISIS related," said Sutiyoso. by jamillah.knowles 7:58 PM Reply Permalink Military armoured personnel carriers are seen near the site of an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. Five militants, including one foreigner, were killed in the gun and bomb assault in central Jakarta, Indonesia's chief security minister said on Thursday. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside by jamillah.knowles 7:57 PM A member of the police bomb squad unit approaches the scene of an explosion following an attack on a police box in central Jakarta January 14, 2016 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. REUTERS/M Agung Rajasa/Antara Foto by jamillah.knowles 7:52 PM Media reports say a Dutch person and another foreigner are among the casualties but it is unclear if they are dead or wounded. by shashank.chouhan 7:39 PM The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out. I see three dead people on the road - A Reuters photographer said by shashank.chouhan 7:38 PM Malaysia's police are beefing up security in public areas and taking extra measures to secure border areas in the aftermath of bomb attacks in neighbouring Indonesia's capital city on Thursday. reut.rs by shashank.chouhan 7:25 PM by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 7:03 PM JUST IN: Indonesia security chief says 'everything under control now' after Jakarta bomb attacks by shashank.chouhan 6:58 PM Indonesia security chief says five militants killed in Jakarta attacks, including one foreigner by shashank.chouhan 6:53 PM Jeremy Douglas @jdouglasSEA Lockdown about to lift & staff to go in small groups. Off to security briefing with @collie_brown to get facts and cut through rumours 1:37 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by shashank.chouhan 6:41 PM Police gather outside a restaurant near the scene of an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:40 PM Adam Harvey @adharves Two foreigners hurt: one injured, one dead. 1:36 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:38 PM Adam Harvey @adharves It started with bomb thrown in Starbucks. Then a suicide bomb in the police box over the road. Three police/anti-terror officers shot 1:35 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:38 PM Adam Harvey @adharves Police on Jakarta attackers: they were part of the terror cell from Solo that was disrupted by police before Christmas 1:34 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:38 PM Adam Harvey @adharves Police: There were six attackers, who were in communication with Syria 1:33 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:38 PM READER COMMENT Extremely heartbreaking - Indonesia was among only handful Muslim countries which were calm without terrorism and now this happened. by Imran edited by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:24 PM A police armoured personnel carrier is seen parked near the scene of an attack in central Jakarta January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside by Reuters_TonyTharakan 6:14 PM Indonesia police says suspect at least three suicide bombers involved in Jakarta attacks - Metro TV by shashank.chouhan 6:06 PM Adam Harvey @adharves More shooting Jakarta now - big panic. I'm down behind a police car 12:59 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by shashank.chouhan 6:03 PM Four suspected attackers arrested in Jakarta attack - Jakarta police Twitter account by shashank.chouhan 6:01 PM Gutta Jwala @Guttajwala Breaks my heart to hear about Jakarta #PrayForJakarta 😔😔💔💔 12:12 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by shashank.chouhan 5:48 PM 5:20 PM - 14 Jan 2016 Twitter ReutersIndia @ReutersIndia Video of blasts in Indonesian capital Jakarta reut.rs/1ROoRlu Jeremy Douglas @jdouglasSEA Quiet over a hour. Latest from the window is media drifting closer to operations. Told lockdown to last https://t.co/s6FaPpeT5V 11:18 AM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by Reuters_TonyTharakan 5:40 PM Starbucks statement on attacks in Jakarta, Indonesia. One blast occurred at a Starbucks cafe in Jakarta Starbucks Statement on Attacks in Jakarta, Indonesia Starbucks Newsroom We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts that have taken place in Jakarta today; our hearts are with the people of Indonesia. by shashank.chouhan 5:37 PM An Indonesian policeman runs near the site of a blast in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta by Reuters_TonyTharakan 5:34 PM Andrew RC Marshall @Journotopia Leading Indonesian security analyst says today's Jakarta attack was an amateurish, "Four Lions-type" operation. https://t.co/LmUZ9NWHtb 12:24 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by shashank.chouhan 5:33 PM Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, the vast majority of whom practice a moderate form of the religion by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:29 PM The last major militant attacks in Jakarta were in July 2009, with bombs at the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:28 PM Indonesia saw a spate of militant attacks in the 2000s, the deadliest of which was a nightclub bombing on the holiday island of Bali that killed 202 people, most of them tourists by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:27 PM We must not be afraid, we must not be defeated by an act of terror like this President Joko Widodo by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:25 PM Police shot dead four suspected militants, and the area is being secured, a police spokesman said. by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:17 PM by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 5:01 PM No indication Islamic State behind Indonesia attack - intelligence chief Reuters India There were no indications that Islamic State militants were behind a gun and bomb attack in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Thursday, the head of the national intelligence agency told Reuters. by shashank.chouhan 4:57 PM Graham Ashton @GrahamAshtonCCP Getting briefings on the Jakarta attacks. Clearly significant events still in progress. 11:41 AM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite by shashank.chouhan 4:45 PM The Straits Times @STcom JUST IN: Tanks deployed in Jakarta where hunt is underway for gunmen after several blasts https://t.co/XsZgUyAepl https://t.co/VbWwJSlA2D 11:41 AM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite The Straits Times @STcom #JakartaBlast: Armoured personnel carriers deployed where hunt is underway for gunmen https://t.co/YO6UtOgPgm https://t.co/uKfj8fsidm 12:07 PM - 14 Jan 2016Reply Retweet Favorite 1 of 2 by shashank.chouhan 4:44 PM Indonesian workers run as they are evacuated from their office at Thamrin business district in Jakarta January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Beawiharta by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:37 PM Indonesia intelligence chief says no indications yet that Jakarta attack related to Islamic State by shashank.chouhan 4:35 PM Indonesia president says nation must not be afraid of 'acts of terror like this' - statement by shashank.chouhan 4:32 PM Read this developing story here Blasts, gunfight in Indonesian capital Jakarta; at least 6 dead Reuters India Militants launched a gun and bomb assault killing at least six people in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, police said, in an attack that followed a threat by Islamic State fighters to put the country in their "spotlight". by shashank.chouhan 4:32 PM Indonesia president condemns Jakarta attacks, issues condolences to victims - statement by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:30 PM Indonesia president cuts short Java trip to return to Jakarta, hold meeting on attacks - spokesman by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:30 PM A U.N. building near the scene was in lock-down with no one allowed in or out, a witness said. Some other high-rise buildings in the area were evacuated. by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:24 PM "I saw a police officer shot right in front of me," one witness told TV One. by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:24 PM Police said they suspected a suicide bomber was responsible for at least one of the blasts and up to 14 militant gunmen were involved in the attack, Metro TV reported. by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:20 PM Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the centre of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, police said, in an attack that followed a threat by Islamic State fighters to put the country in their "spotlight". by Reuters_david.lalmalsawma 4:20 PM Powered by ScribbleLive Content Marketing Software Platform World News Photo Suicide bombers, gunmen kill at least six in Indonesian capital JAKARTA Militants launched a gun and bomb assault in the center of the Indonesian capital on Thursday, killing at least six people, police said, in an attack on a country that Islamic State had threatened to put in its "spotlight". | Video Anxious phone calls, tense moments before Iran's Supreme Leader okayed U.S. sailors' release Seven people detained linked with Istanbul bombing: Turkish minister Philippines urges patrols with U.S. amid sea dispute with China Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electronic trading and data distribution A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance Our next generation legal research platform Our global tax workstation Thomsonreuters.com About Thomson Reuters Investor Relations Careers Contact Us Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. 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In conversation with CREA president Gary Morse

Front PageOct 17, 2011

Gary Morse (Photos by Lori Weir)
Interview by Kathy Bevan
CREA President Gary Morse and his leadership team are directing a number of key initiatives for 2011/2012, three of which likely will define his term in office. The first is the association’s upcoming launch of its new Data Distribution Facility (DDF) – a national, permission-based facility that will, at no charge, enable individual Realtors and brokers to post property listings information from Realtor.ca on third-party sites and to have private IDX sites.

The second is CREA’s Futures Project, which is trying to determine what the real estate landscape may look like five to 10 years from now, to ensure the right tools and processes are in place to help Realtors to succeed. The third is CREA’s latest interaction with the Competition Bureau, in the bureau’s action against the Toronto Real Estate Board and its policies regarding Virtual Office Websites (VOWs). Morse spoke with REM senior editor Kathy Bevan about these three initiatives ahead of CREA’s fall general assembly – here is an edited version of their conversation.
REM: I understand one of your key objectives during your term as CREA president is to improve communications with Realtors, rather than relying – as CREA has in the past – on your member boards and associations to do this communications for you.
GARY MORSE: Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard lots of comments from Realtors that they don’t hear from the national association. That may have centred around the Competition Bureau issue – it’s also come up in discussions about the Data Distribution Facility (DDF).
We’ve asked boards and associations this year to allow us to communicate directly to their members. In other words, to put the communication protocol aside and allow CREA to communicate directly to Realtors on the street. We now have over 50 per cent of the boards who have agreed we can do that.

That’s a huge change from what has taken place in the past, to get better than 50 per cent to agree. We’re also hopeful that all of the boards will come onside at some point, because I can’t think of any good reason why Realtors shouldn’t hear from their national association. I think we have to be careful how we do that – I don’t think we can inundate them with messages on a very frequent basis. We haven’t implemented the communications process with those boards that have agreed yet because we want to develop a tool that gets it right before we just start sending stuff out there.
REM: Do you think talking directly to Realtors will help resolve some of the dissatisfaction we’ve been hearing lately – specifically from some brokers and real estate agents in Quebec – about lack of communication from CREA and questioning what value CREA provides?
MORSE: We’ve had issues and we’ve had discussions with pretty much all of the boards in Quebec over the last two to three months in order to satisfy questions and concerns. We could ignore them – or we could carry on discussions and that’s what we’ve been doing. Have we satisfied all of their concerns? Not necessarily. Have we satisfied some of their concerns? I’m sure we have. Communication always improves that kind of thing.
I really believe the fact that we’ve initiated our discussion about the future and that we’re taking that across the country, having discussions in all regions – will address the concerns that you’ve mentioned come up in various parts of the country. I think it’s very timely that we’re doing this Futures Project. Through this, it will give everybody the opportunity to have input on the kinds of decisions that are made in the future.
I can understand if there are people out there who maybe question the value they are getting from CREA, because CREA has never been in a position to be able to communicate its value proposition directly to the members on the street. And if I never heard from my national association, I might wonder what they do and what I’m paying for. It’s a fair complaint when people say, “What does my national association do?” That’s something we need to address and we are addressing it.
REM: Tell me more about your Futures Project.
MORSE: We are essentially looking at what the future is for Realtors and organized real estate, given anticipated future consumer expectations. The question that we’ve been asking in our discussions is, “Given future consumer expectations, what is the role of Realtors in five to 10 years and what will be the implications for organized real estate?”
We struck a process called scenario-planning – in that process we develop scenarios of how the future might unfold. It could mean – at one extreme – doing nothing different that we do today. At another extreme, it could mean completely unzipping how we look, feel and work – reinventing organized real estate, perhaps even reinventing what Realtors do in terms of the provision of service. We don’t know where that might all take us.
It’s a very big project. We started it last fall and then really started discussions with people across the country in April. It’s our most significant project for this year.
We don’t have all the answers yet – the sessions so far have been to talk about the issues, the challenges and some possible scenarios. The answers, hopefully, will come later. But we can’t come up with answers to issues and challenges without having a good dialogue and good understanding of what the issues and challenges are in the first place. That’s really what the Futures Project has been about so far.
REM: As much as you and your leadership team want to focus on determining the future of organized real estate, the Competition Bureau’s constant focus on this industry continues to impact CREA’s agenda – a case in point was CREA’s recent request for intervener status in the bureau’s action against the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) and its Virtual Office Website (VOW) policies. Does CREA feel it’s necessary to step in only when a board the size of TREB comes under the bureau’s microscope, or is CREA’s potential involvement weighed on a case-by-case basis?
MORSE: I think one of the primary considerations would be – for any area of the country – if there was potential impact that would be felt by other boards and associations in the country. That’s one of the roles CREA plays – to analyze that situation and if there is something happening in one area with regard to any kind of regulation that has potential impact across the country, we would at least look at it to see if we should be involved.
We haven’t spent a lot of time trying to decide if we’re going to be under the microscope of the Competition Bureau for months and years into the future. A part of our futures planning process is to identify needs of Realtors and needs of consumers of the future and work toward making that happen. Hopefully, that will position us well, relative to all regulatory issues.
Regulation comes in many forms – it’s not just the Competition Bureau, each province has a regulator, the federal government has requirements relative to FINTRAC and the new anti-spam legislation that is coming out. There are all kinds of regulatory issues that we need to be on the watch for, to take the most appropriate steps that are going to serve the needs of our members and serve the consumer.


REM: Can you explain how you think CREA’s Data Distribution Facility will help serve the needs of your members and consumers?
MORSE: The primary reason for developing this facility is that we already know the majority of Realtors out there are putting their listings on third-party sites, any number of them. The problem with that is, they’re doing it all individually and it can take time. Sometimes they forget where they put them, they don’t update them when prices change, they forget to take them off systems when they sell or they expire. Having inaccurate information on sites – regardless of what sites they are – doesn’t do anything for the professional image of Realtors.
One of the things DDF will do is – provided we have agreements with those third-party sites – Realtors can determine which sites they’d like their listings to go to and the facility will automatically put them there. When those listings are updated on Realtor.ca, they would automatically be updated on the third-party sites. When they’re sold or expire, they will automatically be removed, so that Realtors won’t have to remember to do that.


The other thing that it will do is help strengthen our trademarks, because there will be requirements in the agreements that we would have with these third parties on how the data can be used, trademark usage – all that kind of thing. So we see this as a benefit for our industry. We also see it as a significant benefit for Realtors.
We know through a survey we’ve done that over 68 per cent of Realtors are manually distributing listing information to any number of sites. The majority of those are spending anywhere from one to three hours a week doing that. Many of them are spending as much as six or more hours a week doing it. So from a time standpoint, from an accuracy standpoint, from a trademark protection standpoint, we see this facility as being a very significant improvement and a great service that’s going to be provided to Realtors.
There are three modules involved. Module One involves a national IDX facility – part of that facility would be to distribute it to large franchisors. The second provides for private or member-only IDX sites and the third module is the facility to distribute to third parties.


Modules One and Two will be either rolled out first, or One, Two and Three will be all rolled out at the same time. We haven’t finalized the dates yet – obviously not all the material has been developed yet, but right now that appears to be the game plan.
REM: You’re just over halfway through your term as CREA president – do you have anything in mind that you hope your name is associated with when your term ends, perhaps a perspective you’ve brought to your presidency from your Nova Scotia home base?
MORSE: I’ve seen our industry be in a reactionary mode for some time now on all kinds of fronts. I believe that we need to make a change in that regard. I believe we need to be more proactive, we have to get ahead of the curve on anything that affects our industry. In order to do that, we need change and so, again, I’m coming back to one of our primary focuses, which is the Futures Project.
I would like to be part of making sure we have a competitive and vibrant industry, that we’re able to meet the needs of consumers. And that we’re also able to meet the needs of Realtors, which most of us believe is one of the best careers in the world. We have to make sure they have the right tools so that they can be efficient in their business of helping buyers and sellers. But in order to do that, we need an efficient and effective structure within organized real estate, where decisions can be made on a timely basis.
If I can play some small part in helping to achieve that, then I’ll be happy.

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CREA, Realtysellers both get standing at TREB competition case
Front PageNov 3, 2011
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CREA and Realtysellers Real Estate have both been granted leave to intervene in the Competition Tribunal proceedings between the Competition Bureau and the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB).
Earlier this year, Commissioner of Competition Melanie Aitken filed an application alleging that TREB’s MLS restrictions and its proposed virtual office website (VOW) policies are anti-competitive.
Madam Justice Sandra J. Simpson ruled that both CREA and Realtysellers bring unique perspectives to the case, but both will be limited to addressing specific topics.
Lawrence Dale, president of Realtysellers, told REM: “The tribunal recognized that Realtysellers is the leading brokerage in this area and has a distinct perspective in these matters. We were granted intervention on essentially the terms we requested. This issue affects us and the tribunal acknowledged we were entitled to a seat at the table.”


Justice Simpson wrote in her ruling: “In my view, although it is a new company which, for the moment, operates on the ‘sell’ side of the business of operating a real estate brokerage, RS (Realtysellers) has a distinct perspective and is directly affected by TREB’s MLS Restrictions, including the Proposed VOW Rules…RS is the only broker which has indicated to the Tribunal that is has such plans.
TREB had opposed the Realtysellers application for leave to intervene.
The court ruled that “the Tribunal will hear evidence about RS’s view of how it will operate a virtual office over the current Internet and of the difficulties caused by the MLS Restrictions.”


The court rejected Realtysellers’ request to address privacy issues, stating that “this is the one topic proposed by RS on which it does not bring a unique perspective.”
“There is a further caveat,” wrote Justice Simpson. “Because of the lengthy litigation history and the current lawsuits between RS’ senior executives and TREB in which damages totaling more than half a billion dollars are claimed, counsel for RS undertook not to call Lawrence Dale as a witness on the RS topics. In my view, testimony from Fraser Beach should also be excluded and I have decided that he is also prohibited from testifying on the RS topics.”

Beach was at the centre of a previous court battle between TREB and Realtysellers, when the broker was denied access to the MLS system for making MLS information available to a third party.
Although Dale and Fraser will not testify as part of the Realtysellers topics, the Competition Bureau may call both of them to testify at the hearing.
CREA may address the development, use and competitive impact of Internet data-sharing vehicles in Canada other than VOWs. It can discuss the appropriate terms of use, policies and rules that would be in place for these vehicles; and it may talk about the impact of the proposed remedies on CREA and its members, including on the MLS and Realtor trademarks.


The court ruled that CREA will not be allowed to discuss VOWs because the case is specifically about TREB’s proposed VOW policy. CREA was also turned down in its request to address the “appropriate definition of the market and geographic markets”.
CREA had also asked that it be allowed to intervene on the basis that it will not be liable for costs and will not seek costs, but that request was refused. Justice Simpson wrote, “While I have no doubt that CREA will behave responsibly and abide by the terms on which its intervention has been allowed, I do not want to fetter the discretion of the panel hearing this matter to make an adverse cost award should unforeseen circumstances develop.”
The hearing is not expected to start for several months. It will take place in Toronto.

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CREA, TREB lose Realtysellers appeal
Front Page Mar 12, 2012
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The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), CREA and 49 individuals named in a $540-million lawsuit launched by Realtysellers have lost an appeal to have the action dismissed. They now have 30 days to file statements of defence with the court.

“CREA spent years trying to avoid filing a defence because they don’t have one,” says Lawrence Dale, president and CEO of Realtysellers. “CREA got TREB and the individuals into this mess. I wonder if TREB will finally do the right thing and expose CREA for what they did.”

The court ruling was handed down on Friday by Justice J. Swinton of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Dale and his cousin Stephen Moranis, a former TREB president, have filed several claims against TREB and CREA over the years relating to Realtysellers, the real estate company they formed in November 2000. The company offered discounted flat fee services. In 2002, TREB enacted new rules that required listing brokers to be involved in the offer negotiation process. Realtysellers sued TREB and filed a complaint with the federal Competition Bureau.

In January 2004, TREB and Realtysellers reached a settlement in which Realtysellers received $700,000 in compensation. TREB changed its rules to allow the flat fee program access to the MLS, and Realtysellers withdrew its complaints to the Competition Bureau, which closed its investigation into the matter.

But Dale and Moranis allege that in 2006, TREB and CREA conspired to force them to close down Realtysellers. CREA implemented new offer negotiation rules in 2007. The Competition Bureau subsequently filed a complaint, which CREA and the bureau settled in 2010 with a 10-year binding consent agreement.

The current $540-million statement of claim names CREA, TREB, and 49 individuals who were TREB or CREA directors or officers at the time, a former CREA president and Treb-Ren ventures, the entity that ran Real Estate News, the board’s now-defunct newspaper. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

In their appeals,

TREB and CREA argued that because the lawsuit named the directors and officers personally, it “raises important issues relating to limited liability protection for corporate representatives.” But Justice Swinton says in the ruling: “I disagree, as the claim against these defendants is with respect to their individual actions, rather than their role as officers and directors.”

Dale says: “CREA leaders came up with a plan in 2006 to prevent me from operating. Now almost 50 people who let that happen must answer for letting that happen. They can’t plead ignorance anymore and they are now personally financially responsible.

“The consent agreement was the first step. Winning these motions was the second step. Now no more delays,” says Dale. “As is my right, I have chosen that a jury of common Canadians will decide this action. I am confident such a jury will see how unlawful they have acted and award a huge amount of damages that will teach the industry a lesson that they will never forget. Canadians know how protective this industry has been.”

In a statement, TREB said it is “pleased by comments from the court pointing to the lack of evidence in the case against them.”

TREB says: “The decision of the court was on a procedural matter and no decision has yet been rendered on the merits of the claim. TREB will continue to vigorously defend the proceeding. We are confident that when the court ultimately addresses the merits of the plaintiffs’ claim, it will be rejected by the court.”

CREA said in a statement: “The ruling was procedural and does not affect the fact that CREA still believes that the plaintiff’s claims are without merit and will be rejected by the court at trial.”

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