Advocacy Corner
Featured
In 2025, Cornerstone’s government relations efforts have focused on the development of an advocacy strategic plan. The plan encompasses our four major market areas, which include 15 municipalities, four regional governments, 20 provincial ridings, 20 federal ridings, and several key stakeholders.
Our priorities have included tracking, analyzing, and responding to issues impacting housing, property rights, and our adopted Quality of Life principles. We’ve also emphasized maintaining transparent communication with our membership to keep them informed about relevant issues through our monthly updates and fostering opportunities for active member engagement.
Cornerstone Conversations
Government Relations: A Year of Advocacy and Future Directions
Government Relations: A Year of Advocacy and Future Direction Kyle Christie with Cornerstone Director Sandra Longden Cornerstone recognizes the many housing challenges our communities face, and we believe that advocacy is essential for amplifying our voices on important issues and […]
Advocacy in Focus
A visual journey of bringing policy to key decision makers.
Norfolk County Provincial All Candidates' meetings and debates
Government Relations Committees
Cornerstone’s government relations committees, the Provincial/Federal Advocacy Committee and the Local Advocacy Committee, provide strategic direction and support for initiatives, policies, and programs. The committees advocate for policies that protect property rights, promote economic growth, foster sustainable development, enhance housing affordability, and increase housing supply.
Provincial/Federal Advocacy Committee
Chair: Lou Piriano
Bonnie Prior
Andrea Fedy
Jerry Krzywda
Goris Nazari
Brian Santos
Melissa Vaidya
Nicolas von Bredow
Linh Vu
David Zalepa
Local Advocacy Committee
Chair: Sandra Longden
Jason Baronette
Sardool Bhogal
Maria Bushey
Domenica Carelli
Brendan Clancy
Elizabeth Parker
Oxana Polykova
Margaret Reid
Jason Van Amelsvoort
Events Shaping Policies
Cornerstone attends events throughout the year to engage with elected officials on key issues relating to REALTORS®.Upcoming Events
Past Events
Norfolk Innovation Frontier Forum: April 9, 2026
MBOT State of the City: A Dialogue with the City's Leaders: March 24, 2026
MBOT Annual Politician's Reception: April 8, 2026
Mississauga Advocacy Day: March 9, 2026
Empire Club - Protecting the Dream of Homeownership in Ontario: The Honourable Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: February 17, 2026
Lincoln Chamber's Annual Politician's Breakfast: February 6, 2026
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber - Vision 1 Million: February 4, 2026
MBOT Event - In Conversation with the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario: February 4, 2026
Burlington State of the City Address: January 23, 2026
MBOT Fireside Chat with Hon. Rob Flack: January 22, 2026
WRHBA Business Networking Luncheon Meeting: Tony LaMantia: January 20, 2026
Good Morning Cambridge - Conversation with City Manager: January 16, 2026
Greater Kitchener Waterloo - Vision 1 Million: January 15, 2026
Burlington Mayor’s Luncheon with Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: December 12, 2025
OREA RAD: November 30 - December 2, 2025
Haldimand Norfolk Home Builders Association Annual Christmas Gala with Minister Rob Flack: November 26, 2025
Niagara Housing Symposium: November 14, 2025
Provincial Budget Discussion with Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy: November 10, 2025
West End Home Builders’ Association Housing Summit: November 3, 2025
CREA GR Pro & PAC Days: October 25 - 28, 2025
Kitchener State of the City with Mayor Berry Vrbanovic: October 21, 2025
Corporate Night OKtoberfest: October 16, 2025
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Light Rail Transit Breakfast: October 15, 2025
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s Mayor’s Breakfast with Andrea Horwath: October 9, 2025
Mississauga Board of Trade Chamber Connect at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting: October 8, 2025
Conversation with the Hon. Caroline Mulroney: October 1, 2025
Hamilton Health Sciences Community of Leader Roundtable: September 16, 2025
Business after Business at City Hall Burlington Chamber of Commerce: September 17, 2025
WR HBA Luncheon: September 18, 2025
Sheridan College Fourplex: 1 House 4 Homes: September 5, 2025
Indwell Mississauga Celebration Social: September 12, 2025
Launch of 2025 University Ave East Habitat for Humanity/Build Now project: June 26, 2025
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce State of the City: June 16, 2025
Mississauga Board of Trade State of the City with Mayor Parrish: June 10, 2025
Burlington Bay Area Economic Summit: June 5, 2025
Burlington Mayor's Speaker Series, Tackling the Housing Crisis in Uncertain Times: May 26, 2025
Norfolk County Innovation Frontier Forum: April 24, 2025
MBOT Annual Politicians Reception: April 23, 2025
Mississauga Board of Trade Event with Tiff Macklem: February 21, 2025
BUZZ Conference: February 12-13, 2025
Greater Waterloo Provincial Leadership Series
PC Party of Ontario, Mike Harris Jr., Minister of Red Tape Reduction of Ontario: February 13, 2025
NDP Leader Marit Stiles: February 11, 2025
Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie: February 3, 2025
Black History Month with The Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR): February 2, 2025
Burlington 2025 Mayor's State of the City Address: January 24, 2025
Mississauga Board of Trade Event with Minister Bethlenfalvy: December 16, 2024
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Vision 1 Million: December 10, 2024
Burlington 2024 Mayor’s Luncheon: December 9, 2024
The Future of Housing in Waterloo Region: November 14, 2024
Transforming Downtown Hamilton: November 8, 2024
Initiatives
We are addressing important issues across our municipalities and regions, as well as at the provincial and federal levels.
Visit the REALTOR® Community tab to learn about the impactful work that OREA and CREA are undertaking in Toronto and Ottawa.
The iPro Realty scandal highlighted critical failings in oversight and governance within the Real Estate Council of Ontario. Cornerstone has been steadfast in advocating for affected REALTORS® to be made whole as well as reforms for greater oversight and enforcement.
Cornerstone Press Releases
Cornerstone commends Minister Crawford and RECO Administrator Lépine for their announcement of Full Commission Payments
HAMILTON, ON (January 21, 2026) - Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone) commend's today's announcement by Minister Stephen Crawford and RECO Administrator and Acting CEO Jean Lépine to enable 100 per cent payment for all eligible iPro commission protection claims. Following RECO's failure to freeze iPro Realty accounts and promptly notify the industry, registrants and […]
Cornerstone Welcomes RECO Administrator’s Commitment to Full Commission Payments in Christmas Eve Update
HAMILTON, ON (December 24, 2025) - Cornerstone commends today’s open letter from RECO Administrator Jean Lépine, which commits to working toward the full payment of 100% of eligible commission claims owed to registrants as quickly as possible and for acknowledging this as a top priority. Following the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s (RECO) failure to promptly freeze iPro Realty accounts and notify the industry, registrants and consumers were exposed […]
Cornerstone Meets with Minister Crawford
Cornerstone’s Chair Julie Sergi, Director Nicolas von Bredow, CEO Bill Duce, and staff met with the Honourable Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario. We met with Minister Crawford to present evidence-based recommendations for reforming RECO in light of the recent iPro Realty situation. In total, we shared 12 recommendations developed through feedback […]
Cornerstone Welcomes First Step from RECO for Affected REALTORS® and Consumers Following iPro Realty Scandal
HAMILTON, ON (December 16, 2025) - Cornerstone was pleased to see the Government of Ontario and the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) take a first step to financially support consumers and REALTORS® affected by the iPro Realty scandal. Yesterday, RECO’s Insurance Program Manager announced that funds would begin to […]
Cornerstone Applauds Appointment of RECO Administrator
HAMILTON – Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone) applauds the appointment of experienced leader Jean Lépine as the Administrator for the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). According to a Cornerstone member survey, 84 per cent of brokers and 86 per cent of members agree that RECO needs reform to better protect consumers, and real estate professionals, and rebuild trust in […]
Cornerstone Urges Action to Compensate REALTORS® and Consumers Impacted by iPro Realty Scandal
HAMILTON, ON (December 12, 2025) – The Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone) has been steadfastly championing for consumers and REALTORS® impacted by RECO’s mismanagement of the iPro Realty scandal by calling for RECO and the Ontario Government to ensure all those affected are made whole. RECO's decision to not freeze the iPro Realty accounts and […]
Statement from Ontario’s Nine Largest REALTOR® Associations on Letter to Minister Crawford Regarding RECO and iPro Realty
(September 3, 2025 – Toronto) Today, Ontario’s nine largest REALTOR® associations, representing more than 95,000 of the nearly 100,000 REALTORS® across the province, sent a joint letter to the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, the Honourable […]
Statement from TRREB, Cornerstone, OREB, OnePoint, and CLAR on Ford Government Review of RECO
TORONTO, ONTARIO, August 29, 2025 – Ontario’s five largest REALTOR® associations, representing more than 90 per cent of the nearly 100,000 REALTORS® in the province, support the Ford government’s decision to intervene in the review of the Real Estate Council of […]
Related Articles
Cornerstone sounded the alarm over the City of Hamilton's consideration of a Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT). This tax would significantly burden homebuyers, exacerbating the city's already critical housing affordability crisis.
Cornerstone Op-Ed's explore current trends, market conditions, and professional challenges faced within our regions. These pieces provide insights and analysis.
Cornerstone Press Releases
Advocacy
30 Year Mortgage for First-time Homebuyers and to All Buyers of New Builds
I am pleased to share our strong support for the recent federal government decision to extend mortgage terms to 30 years for first-time homebuyers and to all buyers of new builds; and raise the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) […]
Advocacy
Beyond New Builds: The Case for Including Resale Homes in Mortgage Policy
Thirty-year mortgage amortizations for first-time buyers purchasing newly built homes in Canada will take effect on August 1, 2024. The federal government announced the new measure as a plan to bolster affordability and encourage the development of new housing. While […]
Advocacy
Balanced Approach to Funding Recreation Investments
On Tuesday, March 11th, the Norfolk County Council was scheduled to consider a Draft Master Recreation Plan that could significantly impact our communities' future recreation facilities, programs, and services. The bold report proposes several changes to improve our parks and […]
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