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| Auto
Insurance
Has
Changed
-
You
now
have
more
choice
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A few years ago the Ontario Government revamped the rules and coverage available for Auto Insurance. The following information should be helpful for you as you review your insurance coverages.
These
changes
provide
consumers
with
more
choice
and
flexibility
to
purchase coverage
that
best
meets
their
protection
needs
and
budgets.
You
now
have
choices
to
customize
your
medical
and
rehabilitation
benefits,
certain
deductibles
and
income
replacement
coverage.
The
following
chart
summarizes
these
changes.
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New
Auto
Policy
coverage
–
effective
as
of
your
renewal
date.
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| New
options
now
available
–
If
you
want
to
increase
your
benefits,
here
are
some
of
your
new
options. |
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Medical
&
rehabilitation
expenses
to
a
limit
of
$50,000
for
non-catastrophic
injuries.
This
coverage
is
in
your
expiring
policy
but
the
limit
has
been
reduced
to
$50,000
in
your
renewal
policy. |
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You
have
the
option
to
increase
the
limit
to
$100,000
for
non-catastrophic
injuries. |
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Attendant
care
expenses
to
a
limit
of
$36,000
for
non-catastrophic
injuries.
This
coverage
is
in
your
expiring
policy
but
the
limit
has
been
reduced
to
$36,000
in
your
renewal
policy. |
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You
have
the
option
to
increase
the
limit
to
$72,000
for
non-catastrophic
injuries. |
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Caregiver,
Housekeeping
&
Home
Maintenance
expenses
only
available
for
catastrophic
injuries.
This
coverage
is
in
your
expiring
policy
for
both
catastrophic
and
non-catastrophic
injuries.
It
is
not
in
your
renewal
policy
for
non-catastrophic
injuries. |
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You
have
the
option
to
purchase
this
coverage
for
non-catastrophic
injuries |
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Deductible
of
$30,000
when
suing
for
pain
and
suffering.
This
continues
to
be
the
standard
deductible
provided
for
by
law. |
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| * |
You
have
the
option
to
reduce
the
deductible
to
$20,000 |
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The
goal
of
these
changes
is
to
achieve
rate
stabilization
by
keeping
the
costs
incurred
by
insurers
in
check
with
emphasis
placed
on
Accident
Benefits
coverage.
Without
these
reforms,
major
rate
increases
would
be
required.
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What
should
you
do?
All policies issued after September 1 2010, were issued using the new Standard
Auto
Insurance
Policy
and
have
the
option
to
increase
your
benefits
as
described
above.
If
your
vehicle
is
already
insured,
you
don’t
have
to
do
anything
until
your
next
policy
renewal
date.
When
your
policy
comes
due
for
renewal,
the
new
Standard
Auto
Insurance
Policy
will
apply.
In
the
meantime,
your
insurance
company
will
automatically
include
the
following
limits/coverages:
- $100,000
limit
for
non-catastrophic
injuries
and
$1,000,000
limit
for
catastrophic
injuries
for
Medical
and
Rehabilitation
expenses
- $72,000
limit
for
non-catastrophic
injuries
and
$1,000,000
limit
for
catastrophic
injuries
for
Attendant
Care
expenses
- Housekeeping
and
Home
Maintenance
Expenses
up
to
$100
per
week
for
all
injuries
- Caregiver
Expenses
up
to
$250
per
week
for
your
first
dependant
plus
$50
per
week
for
each
additional
dependant
for
all
injuries
If
you
prefer
to
move
to
the
new
Standard
Auto
Insurance
Policy
before
your
next
renewal
date,
contact
us.
We’ll
explain
your
options
and
help
you
make
an
informed
choice.
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Return
to
top
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| Choosing
The
Right
Contractor
and
Protecting
Your
Investment |
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Whether
you’re
adding
a
new
room
or
two,
replacing
an
out-dated
kitchen
or
re-shingling
the
roof,
home
improvements
can
be
challenging.
While
some
homeowners
may
have
the
time
and
skills
to
do
the
work
themselves,
most
people
will
save
time
and
money
by
hiring
a
professional.
Finding
the
right
contractor
is
very
important.
Choose
wrongly,
and
your
project
can
quickly
turn
into
a
nightmare
of
unmet
schedules,
cost
over-runs,
shabby
workmanship
and
endless
arguments.
Where
do
you
start?
 Ask
for
recommendations
from
family,
friends,
co-workers
and
neighbours.
Building
supply
companies,
hardware
stores
and
local
builder/renovator
associations
are
also
excellent
options.
Once
you’ve
got
a
list,
contact
your
local
office
of
the
Better
Business
Bureau
(BBB)
to
see
if
any
complaints
have
been
lodged
against
the
firms
you
name.
Then,
call
and
check
the
references.
Contractors
with
nothing
to
hide
will
not
be
offended
with
these
inquiries.
Always
deal
with
a
professional
Protect
your
home
—
and
yourself
—
by
dealing
with
a
reputable
firm
that
operates
in
the
open
market,
legally
and
responsibly.
Professional
contractors
and
sub-contractors
follow
stringent
guidelines
to
protect
themselves
and
those
they
do
business
with.
Professionals
have
all
the
necessary
insurance.
Their
policies
are
up-to-date
and
they
can
provide
you
with
a
certificate
of
insurance.
Your
peace
of
mind
is
worth
it.
Protect
yourself
Although
you
may
save
money
in
the
short
term,uninsured
contractors
expose
you
to
significant
financial
risk
in
the
event
of
an
injury
or
damage
to
your
property.
You
could
be
liable
if
an
employee
of
the
contractor
is
hurt
while
working
on
your
property
or
if
they
damage
your
home
or
your
neighbour’s
property.
Before
starting
any
renovation
on
your
home,
be
sure
to
call
us,
your
insurance
professionals.
You
want
to
make
sure
your
investment
in
your
home
is
adequately
insured
under
your
policy
from
the
get
go,
as
renovations
increase
the
value
of
your
home,
and
materials
values
can
quickly
add
up.
Calling
us
first
will
ensure
you
have
adequate
coverage
under
your
policy
to
protect
the
investment
you’re
making
in
your
home.
So,
check
your
coverage
with
us.
Then,
once
you’ve
checked
references,
confirmed
insurance
and
legal
credentials,
agreed
on
a
price,
schedules
and
materials,
pick
the
contractor
that
you
like
and
feel
you
can
communicate
with.
It’s
a
long
process
and
you’ll
be
glad
you
did.
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Return
to
top
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| Why
Would
You
Insure
Your
Home
For
More
Than
You
Paid
For
It? |
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Insist
on
Guaranteed
Replacement
Cost
coverage
and
always
‘Insure
to
Value’
 Many
people
mistakenly
believe
the
amount
they
paid
for
their
home
is
the
same
as
its
replacement
cost.
Unfortunately
this
is
not
always
true.
Depending
on
where
you
live,
the
cost
to
rebuild
a
total
loss
home
can
be
significantly
more
than
its
market
value.
Some
of
the
factors
that
drive
up
rebuilding/reconstruction
costs
include:
Urgency
-
Property
losses
are
not
planned
like
a
new
construction
project.
When
they
do
occur,
there
is
a
need
to
rebuild
as
soon
as
possible.
This
means
the
cost
of
labour,
materials
and
other
services
required
are
often
significantly
higher.
Demolition
and
Debris
Removal
-
Major
losses,
require
the
removal
of
partially
damaged
property
and
debris.
Costs
increase
if
there
are
environmental
issues
such
as
soil
contamination.
Current
Building
Codes
-
New
and
more
demanding
building
codes
may
need
to
be
met
when
rebuilding
or
restoring
a
damaged
home.
Worksite
Access
and
Collateral
Damage
-
At
reconstruction
sites
there
is
typically
less
room
because
of
debris,
landscaping,
fences
and
other
buildings
in
the
vicinity.
This
causes
more
work
and
material
storage
to
be
done
further
away
from
the
site,
thus
extending
the
project
time
and
cost.
In
some
cases,
physical
access
requirements
result
in
collateral
damage
to
existing
property
on
and
beside
the
insured’s
property.
It’s
easy
to
see
how
the
cost
to
rebuild
your
home
could
be
much
more
than
you
paid
for
it.
Don’t
get
caught
in
a
situation
where
your
loss
exceeds
your
coverage
limits.
We
can
provide
you
with
advice
to
help
you
determine
the
correct
amount
of
insurance
you
need
on
your
property.
And,
we’ll
recommend
coverages
like
Guaranteed
Replacement
Cost
coverage.
It’s
wise
to
re-evaluate
your
home’s
replacement
cost
every
5
years
to
reflect
changes
in
the
cost
of
construction,
including
building
materials
and
labour.
And,
if
you’ve
made
any
recent
renovations,
upgrades
or
alterations
to
your
home,
we
can
help
you
established
a
new
replacement
cost
value.
If
you
have
any
doubts,
please
contact
us.
We’ll
help
you
insure
your
home
to
its
proper
value.
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Return
to
top
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| You’ve
Had
An
Auto
Accident
-
Now
What? |
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 You
hear
a
horn,
feel
a
bump
and
next
thing
you
know,
you
hear
the
sound
of
crumpling
metal.
With
all
this
going
on
around
you,
you’re
thoughts
race.
You
make
sure
everyone
is
okay,
and
then
all
is
quiet.
You
think
to
yourself…”What
do
I
do
next?
Who
do
I
contact?
Where
do
I
go
to
get
my
car
fixed?
Is
my
car
driveable?”
All
of
these
questions
fog
up
you
mind
and
confuse
you.
That’s
why
it’s
important
to
be
prepared
and
know
what
steps
to
take
after
an
auto
accident.
What
you
should
do
after
an
accident?
-
Don’t
leave
the
accident
scene
–
leaving
the
scene
could
lead
to
serious
or
even
criminal
charges.
-
Determine
if
there
are
any
injuries
and
if
so,
call
911
immediately.
-
Try
to
determine
if
there
is
more
than
$1,000
in
damage
for
the
whole
accident
(your
car
and
any
other
vehicles
involved).
If
the
damage
appears
to
be
more
than
$1,000,
call
the
police
and
they
will
come
and
assess
the
scene.
If
the
damage
is
less
than
$1,000,
you
still
need
to
call
the
police,
but
they
will
instruct
you
on
what
to
do
next
to
assess
the
damages.
-
If
it
is
safe
to
do
so,
move
the
vehicles
off
to
the
side
of
the
road
and
make
the
situation
safe
for
all,
including
passing
traffic.
-
Collect
names,
addresses,
telephone
numbers,
insurance
information,
license
plates
numbers,
driver’s
license
numbers
of
all
drivers
involved
in
the
accident.
-
Remember
witnesses
and
passengers;
gather
their
information
as
well
–
names,
addresses,
telephone
numbers.
-
Take
notes
of
what
the
immediate
scene
looked
like
-
placement
of
trees,
shrubs,
stop
signs,
signal
lights,
pedestrian
crossings
etc.
This
will
help
when
you
report
the
claim
to
us.
-
Call
us!
As
soon
as
you
have
completed
the
first
7
steps,
call
us
immediately.
We’ll
answer
your
questions
and
guide
you
through
the
claims
process.
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Return
to
top
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| Choosing
The
Right
Insurance…
it’s
easier
than
you
think! |
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Choice
is
important
to
all
consumers.
We
know
you
have
many
options
when
it
comes
to
buying
insurance.
However,
if
you
want
independent,
unbiased,
uninfluenced,
personalized
advice,
there
is
only
one
choice.
And
that
choice
is
an
independent
insurance
broker.
Independent
insurance
brokers
work
for
you
-
not
for
a
call
centre,
an
insurance
company
or
a
bank.
As
your
independent
insurance
broker,
we
are
your
consultant
and
advocate
-
and
we’re
with
you
every
step
of
the
way.
As
your
life
and
insurance
needs
change,
whether
it’s
marriage,
a
new
home,
young
drivers
or
the
toys
that
come
with
retirement,
we
can
tailor
an
insurance
product
that
fits
you
perfectly.
Don’t
settle
for
one-size
fits
all
solutions.
By
properly
assessing
your
insurance
needs,
we
can
help
you
purchase
customized
insurance
products
that
match
your
needs.
Because
we
represent
many
insurers,
we
search
the
marketplace
for
the
best
insurance
coverage
for
you.
Unlike
direct
agents
who
can
only
sell
the
product
of
the
Insurer
or
bank
they
work
for,
we
offer
more
choices,
unbiased
advice
and
insurance
that
fits.
This
is
our
advantage
for
you.
And
remember,
when
you
deal
with
an
independent
insurance
broker,
you
get
a
licensed
and
highly
trained
insurance
professional
working
for
you.
From
the
application
process
to
the
never
anticipated
claim,
we’re
here
to
guide
you,
offer
advice
and
advocate
on
your
behalf.
You’re
never
alone
and
never
just
a
number.
We’re
insurance
experts
and
we’re
on
your
side.
It’s
no
wonder
we
say...
Your
Best
Insurance,
is
an
Insurance
Broker.
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Return
to
top
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| Business
Interrupted?
Now
What? |
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Let’s
say
you
own
a
restaurant
and
suffer
a
fire
loss.
You
are
forced
to
close
for
two
months
to
make
repairs
and
then
you
find
it
takes
another
two
months
before
your
business
returns
to
its
normal
level.
How
can
you
protect
your
property
and
your
business?
In
this
situation,
your
Property
policy
pays
to
repair
the
building
and
replace
your
contents.
Your
business
losses
are
covered
depending
on
the
type
of
Business
Interruption
insurance
you’ve
chosen.
If
you
have
Gross
Profits
Insurance,
your
loss
of
income
is
paid
while
closed
for
repairs
and
while
you
rebuild
your
business
to
its
original
level
up
to
the
limit
of
coverage.
Gross
Earnings
Insurance
only
covers
the
income
lost
during
the
time
required
to
repair
the
premises.
If
you
own
rental
income
property,
you
also
have
two
choices
for
Business
Interruption
Insurance.
Gross
Rentals
Insurance
acts
on
the
same
basis
as
Gross
Profit
Insurance.
If
your
apartment
building
suffered
a
fire,your
Gross
Rentals
Insurance
will
pay
for
the
loss
of
income
during
the
repair
period
and
for
lost
income
during
the
time
it
takes
to
rent
all
of
the
damaged
apartments
up
to
the
limit
of
coverage.
Whether
your
business
is
retail,
restaurant,
manufacturing
or
rental
properties,
we
can
offer
the
appropriate
Business
Interruption
Insurance
to
protect
you
from
loss
of
income.
Call
us
to
get
started.
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Return
to
top
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| Tips
For
Driving
In
The
USA |
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 If
you
plan
on
driving
in
the
United
States,
whether
in
a
rental
car
or
your
own,
there
are
certain
steps
you
can
take
to
make
sure
you’re
trip
is
safe
and
enjoyable.
First,
make
sure
you
have
a
valid
Passport
or
WHTI-compliant
identification
like
an
enhanced
driver’s
license
(EDL)
or
NEXUS
card.
Since
June
2009,
Canadians
traveling
to
the
U.S.
by
land
or
sea
are
required
to
present
an
approved
document
that
shows
identity
and
citizenship.
Be
aware
that
you
must
declare
any
meats,
fruits,
vegetables,
plants,
seeds,
and
animals
you
have
in
your
vehicle
or
are
carrying,
including
checked
baggage
and
carry-on
luggage.
Also
make
sure
to
carry
your
valid
Driver’s
Licence
and
proof
of
insurance.
An
up-to-date
pink
insurance
liability
slip
includes
important
telephone
numbers
and
proves
you
have
insurance.
If
you
are
considering
renting
a
vehicle,
it
is
a
good
idea
to
extend
coverage
from
your
own
Ontario
automobile
policy
to
the
rental
vehicle.
By
adding
an
OPCF
27
to
your
auto
policy,
you
won’t
have
to
worry
about
buying
extra
insurance
when
you
rent
a
car
anywhere
in
the
United
States
or
Canada.
Like
Ontario’s
hands-free
law,
many
states
ban
the
use
of
cell
phones
while
driving.
The
states
of
Illinois,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
New
Mexico,
Ohio
and
Pennsylvania
even
allow
cities
or
regions
to
implement
their
own
bans.
Be
safe
and
smart
and
avoid
electronic
distractions
while
behind
the
wheel.
It’s
impossible
to
know
when,
where
or
if
you’ll
get
into
an
accident,
but
if
you
do,
call
us
for
advice
and
we’ll
help
guide
you
through
the
claims
process.
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