Questions are being raised about the industry watchdog that's supposed to discipline realtors in B.C. 

Nearly two years ago CTV News investigated a Metro Vancouver realtor named Marco Vincenzi. He was suspended after getting caught altering documents.

Now, CTV News has learned that Vincenzi has had his license suspended again and that's raising questions about whether the Real Estate Council of B.C.is doing enough to protect people buying and selling their homes.

Consumer reporter Lynda Steele first met Janet MacKenzie in the spring of 2013. She'd been trying to buy a Yaletown condo, listed for sale with a reduced commission.

Her realtor, Marco Vincenzi apparently didn't want to lose money on the deal, so behind the scenes, he was altering documents, changing offer prices, and submitting offers without MacKenzie's permission.

When she complained to the Real Estate Council of B.C., it determined after a 16-month-long investigation, that Vincenzi had committed "professional misconduct". He was fined $1,250, ordered to take a remedial course, and given a 120 day suspension.

So MacKenzie was furious to learn that just weeks into his suspension, Vincenzi was accused of practicing real estate again.

This time the Real Estate Council took 18 months to investigate, before ordering Vincenzi be suspended for the lesser term of 60 days.

"It's like the definition of insanity. Is he going to obey it this time?  I don't know. It doesn't seem like it's enough, and it doesn't seem to be protecting the public interest," said MacKenzie.

Steele visited the Real Estate Council of B.C. to ask for clarification on its disciplinary rulings and what it would take to revoke a realtor’s licence completely.

"The council does have the power to cancel a licence, and that is really the most severe penalty. It is for very serious offenses where the public is put at significant risk," said Marilee Peters of the Real Estate Council of B.C.

Peters couldn’t give an example of an offense that would warrant that type of action, but stated all of the council’s licence cancellations are published on its website.

According to that site, in the last fiscal year, there were just over 21,000 licensed realtors in B.C. There were 413 complaints investigated by the council. Resulting in 97 realtors being disciplined or suspended and the grand total of licences cancelled outright was just one.

"There is a relationship of trust, and when a consumer feels that that trust has been betrayed, that's a big deal," said Peters.

It was a big deal to Janet MacKenzie and she wants to see the council come down even harder on unscrupulous realtors.

"Let's weed out the bad ones, that's what I would like to see to build public confidence in the profession,” she said.

When CTV News contacted Marco Vincenzi he told us that in his consent order he did admit to viewing a property on behalf of himself and a co-investor, and later stated in an email, "I did not appreciate at the time that as a suspended licensee, I was providing real estate services by entering a property and discussing it without the presence of a licensee."  

He also stated that he has chosen not to get re-licensed and is no longer a realtor.

As for the disciplinary statistics for 2015, the council has already disciplined or suspended 33 B.C. realtors and permanently cancelled the licences of two others.