meMORandum
May 15, 2026
EDUCATION
410+ Members Completed Salesperson Annual Education at NBREA Conference in April
What Managers need to know about 2026 education requirements for their teams — and themselves
NBREA’s 68th AGM & Mandatory Education Conference took place April 21–22 in Saint John. More than 500 participants — including members, exhibitors, sponsors, and staff — attended two days of education, meetings, sessions, and networking.
NBREA records, which are currently being finalized, indicate that approximately 410 members completed the 2026 mandatory education requirement for salespersons live and in person at the conference.
What does this mean for the more than 1,000 members who did not attend, and what does it mean for Manager and Agent members?
First, the salesperson education presented at the conference was professionally audio and video recorded and is now being prepared for online delivery. The online education program will include interactive questions and quizzes and is expected to be available by late fall.
Members who did not complete their salesperson education requirement at the conference will have until January 31, 2027, to complete the education requirement online. This requirement applies to all members, including Managers and Agents.
In addition, all Managers and Agents will be required to complete an additional mandatory MCPD course designed specifically for those roles. The course will include important information related to trust account inspections, FINTRAC compliance, risk mitigation, mentoring, and industry trends.
The Manager and Agent MCPD course will be offered in a workshop format in the coming months. Stay tuned for additional details.
Questions may be directed to: education@nbrea.ca
GOVERNANCE & ADVOCACY
New NBREA President & Board of Directors 2026
Introducing your new Association leadership team for the year ahead
During the 68th AGM & Mandatory Education Conference in Saint John on April 21-22, a new Association President and Board of Directors team was installed.
Michelle Roy of eXp Realty moves into the President’s seat, and Ryan Davison, who wraps up his own two-year term as President, now serves as Past President.
Michelle has served on NBREA’s Board of Directors team for several years, preceded by serving as President and as a Director for the Fredericton Real Estate Board.
Congratulations to the newly-installed team and good luck in the year ahead!
COMPLIANCE/REGULATION
NBREA Dues Invoices Arriving at the end of May
Invoices will include a dues increase and a reintroduction of the education fee. What Managers of Record need to know
All members will be receiving their annual dues invoices from NBREA by the end of May. For the first time in nine years, NBREA annual membership dues and compliance fees are increasing, rising by a combined total of $53 (from $536 to $589).
Since 2017, these fees had been intentionally held stable while the Association absorbed rising operating and regulatory costs. While this year’s adjustment represents a change, overall fees remain below what they would have been had they increased annually in line with inflation over the past decade. In that context, the 2026 increase reflects a measured correction following a prolonged fee freeze.
A second key change for 2026 is the return of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) fee, following a three-year period (2023-2025) during which the fee was not charged to members.
Beginning in 2026, the MCPD fee ($150) will be invoiced to all members at the same time — and on the same invoice — as annual dues. This applies whether mandatory education is completed at the AGM or later through the online education program, creating a single, predictable annual billing cycle.
Together, these changes support stable and transparent funding while simplifying the invoicing process for members.
Questions may be directed to: accounting@nbrea.ca
PRACTICE UPDATES
Aboriginal Land Claims and Private Property: What Managers of Record Should Know
Recent court decisions across Canada have increased discussion around Aboriginal title claims involving privately owned land
Recent court decisions in British Columbia and New Brunswick have drawn national attention to legal questions surrounding Aboriginal title claims and privately owned land. Legal commentators have noted that these decisions highlight evolving and sometimes differing approaches by Canadian courts regarding the relationship between Aboriginal title and fee simple ownership.
In New Brunswick, the Wolastoqey Nation litigation continues to move through the courts. The New Brunswick Court of Appeal previously concluded that while a court could potentially make findings related to Aboriginal title involving privately owned land, the return of privately owned lands themselves was not an available remedy.
At the same time, a separate British Columbia decision involving the Cowichan Tribes reached a different conclusion regarding the potential coexistence of Aboriginal title and privately owned lands, contributing to ongoing legal debate and national discussion within the legal and real estate sectors.
NBREA is currently reviewing these developments within the New Brunswick regulatory and practice context while continuing to monitor developments in other jurisdictions, including guidance issued by regulators in British Columbia.
Some members have reached out to NBREA with questions relating to disclosure obligations arising from these proceedings. Disclosure obligations can be highly fact-specific, and there is an important distinction between matters directly affecting a specific property and broader legal or constitutional issues evolving through the courts in the public domain.
Managers of Record may wish to reinforce with their teams the importance of remaining informed and aware of these developments while continuing to exercise professional judgment and meet their obligations under the REALTORⓇ Code, the Act to Incorporate the New Brunswick Real Estate Association, and the Real Estate Agents Act, including remaining within the scope of their expertise and advising clients to seek independent legal or other professional advice where appropriate.
Questions?
Reach out to NBREA at communications@nbrea.ca