Insurance Regulators/Licensing for Other Provinces
Please contact the applicable provincial regulator for questions pertaining to licensing requirements and conduct in other jurisdictions.
Alberta Insurance Council
www.abcouncil.ab.ca/
Insurance Council of Manitoba
www.icm.mb.ca/
Government of New Brunswick
Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick
http://fcnb.ca/industry-insurance.html
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Digital Government and Service NL
www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/insurance/
Government of Northwest Territories
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
www.fin.gov.nt.ca/en/services/licences-taxes-et-droits-assurance/how-apply-nwt-insurance-license
Government of Nova Scotia
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
www.novascotia.ca/finance/en/home/insurance/default.aspx
Government of Nunavut
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
www.gov.nu.ca/finance/information/insurance-regulation
Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO)
www.ribo.com/
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA)
www.fsrao.ca/
Government of Prince Edward Island
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/justice-and-public-safety/insurance-agent-licence
Chambre de l’assurance de dommages ( P&C Insurance)
www.chad.qc.ca/en
Chambre de la sécurité financière
www.chambresf.com/
Autorité des marchés financiers
www.lautorite.qc.ca/
Government of Yukon
The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/insuranceact.html
Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO)
CISRO
www.cisro-ocra.com/
Canadian Insurance Regulators (CIRDA)
Publication of Discipline Decisions
www.ccir-ccrra.org
Other Regulatory Bodies
The British Columbia Securities Commission is the independent provincial government agency responsible for regulating capital markets in British Columbia through the administration of the Securities Act.
www.bcsc.bc.ca/
is the regulator of a variety of sectors and specific types of consumer transactions in British Columbia.
licence and inspect regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities
BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of private sector insurers operating in British Columbia. They ensure that insurers are properly authorized; supervise insurers and address solvency concerns with their operations; and address statutory market conduct issues. They are also responsible for the regulation of mortgage brokers and real estate professionals. BCFSA sets and enforces standards of conduct under the Real Estate Services Act and protects consumers from unlicensed real estate services activity.
Their work includes addressing:
Complaints against insurance companies,
but they
do not resolve individual claims disputes
Tied Selling
Unlicensed Activity
Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada’s debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is carrying on the regulatory functions of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada, and is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians’ trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (ciro.ca).
Matters relating to a firm or advisor formerly regulated by IIROC or trading on a Canadian marketplace, contact IIROC division.
Matter relating to a firm or advisor formerly regulated by the MFDA, contact the MFDA division.
Regulates and supervises more than 400 federally regulated financial institutions and 1,200 pension plans to determine whether they are in sound financial condition and meeting their requirements.
Federally regulated financial institutions include all banks in Canada, and all federally incorporated or registered trust and loan companies, insurance companies, cooperative credit associations, fraternal benefit societies and private pension plans. OSFI’s scope of regulation does not include consumer or consumer-related issues or the securities sector, which are the responsibility of other agencies, both federal and provincial.
Regulates motor vehicle dealerships, agents, and salespersons.
www.mvsabc.com/
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC)
Federal government body reporting suspicious financial transactions.
www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca
Consumer Protection & Assistance
a non-profit that helps consumers find and recommend businesses they can trust.
is a leader in consumer support services including complaints, customer reviews, advertising reviews and education.
BBB will only review complaints which are:
not
in litigation when filed with BBB.
not
resolved by a previous court action, arbitration, or settlement between the parties.
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body created by the B.C. Human Rights Code. The Tribunal is responsible for accepting, screening, mediating, and adjudicating human rights complaints. The Tribunal offers the parties to a complaint the opportunity to try to resolve the complaint through mediation. Respondents have an opportunity to respond to a complaint and to apply to dismiss a complaint without a hearing. If the parties do not resolve a complaint and the complaint is not dismissed, the Tribunal holds a hearing.
www.bchrt.bc.ca/tribunal/index.htm
is the regulator of a variety of sectors and specific types of consumer transactions in British Columbia.
licence and inspect regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.
CHOA is a consumer based non-profit association that promotes the understanding of strata property living and the interests of strata property owners.
provide professional advisory services based on individual strata needs.
offer education, publications, resources and support for our members.
actively assist members, and the strata industry, to help make strata living a positive experience.
CHOA members include strata corporations, individual owners, and businesses that serve the strata industry, strata related associations and governmental agencies from all across British Columbia.
www.choa.bc.ca/
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) ensures federally regulated financial entities comply with consumer protection measures, promotes financial education and raises consumers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency.html
The GIO is an independent organization that offers a free service to assist consumers with disputes they have with their insurance company on home or business insurance coverage. The GIO typically deals with complaints involving claims, interpretation of policy coverage, and policy handling.
*Please note: Most general insurance companies have their own Ombudsman, and we would recommend also exploring that information directly with the insurer(s).
www.giocanada.org/
IBC consumer resources – brochures; information about dispute resolution and how insurers use credit information; and campaigns and studies conducted by IBC – are designed to help you understand your insurance options. IBC represents the companies that insure your home, car and business.
www.ibc.ca
Autoplan & licensee inquiries or procedures
www.icbc.com/
OIPC is independent from government and monitors and enforces British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). FIPPA allows access to information held by public bodies (such as ministries, universities and hospitals) and determines how public bodies may collect, use and disclose personal information. PIPA sets out how private organizations (including businesses, charities, associations and labour organizations) may collect, use and disclose personal information.
www.oipc.bc.ca/
Has jurisdiction over Crown corporations such as ICBC
www.bcombudsperson.ca/
Canada’s independent complaint resolution and information service for consumers of Canadian life and health insurance.
resolve insurance complaints about life, disability, employee health benefits, travel, and investment products such as annuities and segregated funds.
provide general information about life and health insurance.
bilingual services are free and available to any consumer whose insurance company is an OLHI member. Canadian law requires most life and health insurance companies to be members of an independent dispute resolution service.
The Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISOA) provides services to all stratas (apartments, condominiums, townhomes, bare land stratas) owners and associate members in British Columbia. It is an independent, non-profit organization that was formed in 1973 and is supported solely by membership fees. Membership is open to all residential/business strata corporations that have registered with the B.C. Land Title Office as well as individual owners and non-owner associate members.
www.visoa.bc.ca/
Regulates motor vehicle dealerships, agents, and salespersons.
www.mvsabc.com/
The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is a corporation sole established under the Public Guardian and Trustee Act with a unique statutory role to protect the interests of British Columbians who lack legal capacity to protect their own interests. The mandate of the PGT is to:
Protect the legal and financial interests of children under the age of 19 years;
Protect the legal, financial, personal and health care interests of adults who require assistance in decision making; and
Administer the estates of deceased and missing persons.
Legal Resources
Civil Claims up to $5,000 and some Strata matters.
www.civilresolutionbc.ca/
Dial-A-Law is a library of legal information prepared by lawyers. It offers general information on a variety of topics on law in British Columbia. Dial-A-Law is a free service that is available in English, Chinese and Punjabi by telephone and on the Internet. Dial-A-Law is funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia and is operated by the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch (CBABC).
www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law
The Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia and operated by the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch (CBABC). The LRS program enables the public to access lawyers and provides the opportunity to have a consultation with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes for a nominal fee.
www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Lawyer-Referral-Service
Civil Claims $5,001 to $35,000.
www.smallclaimsbc.ca
Licensee Resources
Voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors and planners.
Ongoing continuing education programs.
Access to professional liability insurance.
Salespersons are INCLUDED.
Adjusters and Agents are EXCLUDED.
Questions about Holiday Pay, Severance Pay, etc.
Employment disputes are a civil matter outside Insurance Councils jurisdiction.
The FST hears appeals from individuals and institutions who want to contest enforcement decisions.
www.fst.gov.bc.ca/
Online insurance training and education including provincial insurance licensing courses and continuing education.
www.ilscorp.com/
The Insurance Brokers Association of B.C. is a trade association for property and casualty insurance brokerages in B.C. Membership is voluntary and about 90% of the insurance brokerages in B.C. are members. IBABC and its counterpart associations in every province are members of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada. Many initiatives are shared across Canada by this association network.
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