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Sean Morrison, who helms the Ontario Real Estate Association, said the letter flies in the face of advice his group has doled out to realtors in the province.

“We’re disappointed with the content of that letter, as it kind of runs against what we’ve called for since the beginning of this crisis. We’ve always asked that our realtors remain professional and put the needs of their communities first in these difficult times,” he said.

“We have brought the matter to the attention of our regulator, the Real Estate Council of Ontario, for their review, as obviously we don’t condone that type of behaviour.”

Though the industry falls under the “essential service” category, realtors were advised only to continue in-person with essential deals, such as those that already were started and caught in limbo when the pandemic intensified. All open houses have been banned by the province.

“If they don’t have a vital need to transact right now, don’t risk it,” said Morrison, a St. Catharines broker.

“We’ve asked for an end to all face-to-face business whenever possible and to switch to technology solutions like virtual tours . . . for that business that’s vital.”

Dier said she had the right to express her opinion, adding she was promoting her business just as lawyers and bankruptcy services are doing amid the pandemic.

“I was not by any means trying to push the point that they are going to lose their houses, but the crux of the article is that there will be a correction in the market,” she said.

“I’m sorry that fear is running high and people are wanting to shoot the messenger, which in this case happened to be me, but the comments and insults (I’ve received) were completely unwarranted. I don’t need to accept ridicule from the public or anyone else.”

She’s received a slew of nasty comments online, including threats to herself and her family, Dier said.

She said she apologized on the online public forum Reddit, suggesting she could have “softened the blow of the wording of my letter.”