Your comments: Real estate fees and sext scandals

Harry Janzen, a member of the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors is pictured with a recently sold property. (Geoff Howe/Canadian Press)

The Competition Bureau is taking on the Canadian Real Estate Association with claims the group limits consumer choice.

It also claims CREA forces people to pay for services they might not want in selling a house.

The Multiple Listing Service is owned by the association and people who want their homes listed on the MLS system must pay for all the services the association offers, even if they want only a basic listing.

We asked if you've paid unwanted fees when listing a home and of the 549 people who responded, nearly 70 per cent said yes.

Commenter John123 finds commission fees unreasonably high, saying "5% commission on a 100K-200K house 10 years ago was one thing, but now houses in general are much more expensive. Should I really have to give $25,000 to a realtor for selling my house? I don't think so."

Another commenter argues that fees cover a realtor's services and are worth it.

"I am no realtor, but I do appreciate everything my current realtor is doing for me," says Labatts123.

Sheila91 is a realtor and offers her take.

"I am a proud REALTOR and have been working this business helping people move for the past 30 years... Would like to say to the people who thinks MLS is a scam, do you know what MLS means?? Go on the web and find out. How many people will have to pay to go to work??? We as REALTORS do, we have to pay before we can get paid.... DO YOU KNOW how much advertising cost??? Go on the web and find out," she suggests.

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Spy vs. Spy

Canada's spy agency is pulling out all the stops to block the release of decades-old intelligence on socialist icon Tommy Douglas.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service argues that full disclosure of the file on Douglas could endanger the lives of confidential informants and jeopardize the agency's ability to conduct secret surveillance.

We wanted to know if you felt CSIS should release the full file on and the response was close to unanimous.

Just over 1,000 readers responded to our poll and 78 per cent said they wanted to see the file made public.

Miz_Bee says, "Tommy Douglas addressed my high school graduating class and spoke to us individually after. He spoke directly to the hearts of the young people he was addressing about equality and fairness. He had a profound influence on the way I looked at politics and laws from that moment forward."

Not everyone agreed. One commenter believes the spy agency's opinion should be trusted in these matters.

"I pay a lot of taxes to hire what I am reasonably sure are some of the most expert national security people in the world. They want these security records kept secret. Ergo, keep them secret," says Prince Rupert.

Sext scandals

Toronto's mayoral race was hit with a scandal this week as Coun. Adam Giambrone, Toronto Transit Commission chair confessed to several intimate relationships with women other than his live-in partner. The admission preceded Giambrone's decision to drop out of the mayoral race.

With calls for Giambrone to step down as chair of the TTC, we asked if you thought politicians should have to step down because of personal indiscretions.

Though the poll was only posted Thursday morning, already nearly 300 people have voted. And 48 per cent of respondents said they believe politicians should be held to a higher standard and should resign public positions.

Commenter gah123 puts it plainly, saying, "Look, it's a matter of ethics and morality isn't it? The question becomes whether the breach indicates that the breacher is unable to hold office or has lost the moral authority to do so. People do make mistakes, we're only human. But when it goes from having one affair coming out of a moment of weakness to having several affairs over an extended period, that goes from making a mistake to demonstrating a lack of values."

What do you think? Share your point of view on this story and more at CBC Your Voice.