TORONTO -- A website in Nova Scotia that posts sensitive real estate data online receives dozens of privacy complaints a year, the Competition Tribunal heard Wednesday.

However, Bill McMullin, founder and CEO of ViewPoint Realty Services, said the majority of the complaints are not for publishing historical data considered "sensitive" by the Toronto Real Estate Board -- such as the final selling prices of homes -- but for posting basic listing information that is already widely available elsewhere.

McMullin testified as a witness for the Competition Bureau, which is alleging that the Toronto Real Estate Board is stifling competition and innovation by preventing its realtor members from publishing certain data online.

The board, meanwhile, argues it is trying to protect customers' sensitive information as per the country's privacy laws, noting that many customers don't want information such as how much their home sold for to be accessible by "anyone with an Internet connection."

The case, first heard back in 2011, is expected to be precedent setting and affect how other real estate boards allow their members to offer services to their clients online.

The Competition Bureau initially lost the case but the decision was later overturned by the Federal Court of Appeal, sending it back in front of the Tribunal this week.

During cross-examination Wednesday, McMullin said most consumers appreciate the fact that the data is available on ViewPoint's site.

"The vast majority of people clearly love what we do," McMullin said, noting that ViewPoint has received an "enormous amount" of unsolicited positive feedback from its users and that the site's popularity is a testament to consumers' satisfaction.

"Consumers don't use things they don't like," McMullin said.

The bureau also called upon Tarik Gidamy of tech-savvy brokerage TheRedPin.com as a witness, who testified that being permitted to post historical data, including final selling prices, would significantly boost his business.

"Having the ability to extract that data would do wonders for me," Gidamy told the hearing.

Gidamy acknowledged that his business has grown dramatically in recent years despite the board's restrictions, but noted that he would like for it to grow even more. Providing data that can help customers predict what homes will sell for would help to that end, he said.

"To me, data is not just about history," he said. "It's more meant for the future."

The hearing continues Thursday.