Latest Blog Posts
We release monthly blogs to help consumers better understand their insurance policies. In case you missed it, check out some of the latest posts below:
Water Damage & Insurance: What will my insurance cover?
To understand what water damage is covered by your insurance, it is important to understand the distinction between the different types of water damage coverage that are available in a personal property insurance policy.
Property Insurance: 7 Things to Look for in your Property Insurance Coverage
Whether you’re a homeowner in Toronto, a condo owner in Vancouver, a landlord in Quebec or a tenant in Halifax, having the right property insurance is crucial in protecting your investment. But not all policies are created equal, and as a property owner you need to know what to look for in a policy that reflects your risks, and financial needs in the event of a loss.
Insurance 101: Who regulates insurance in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec?
In Canada, insurance is regulated primarily at the provincial and territorial level. Each province has its own regulatory body that oversees the licensing of insurers and agents, the enforcement of insurance laws, and the protection of consumers. Let’s take a look at how this works in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Stay tuned! In the upcoming months we’ll be diving into insurance regulation in the rest of the Canadian provinces and territories.
For all other blog posts, click here.
New Case Studies
We’ve added four new case studies showcasing how the GIO team has helped consumers resolve their property and casualty insurance disputes.
We’ve helped over 80,000 Canadians with their insurance, including Canadians who have experienced car accidents, fire damage, water damage, travel issues and more. Check out our newest case studies below.
Car Insurance: Value depreciation
Insurance and Unseen Water Damage
See all of our case studies here.
Wildfires: What you need to know and how to prepare
During the summer and fall months, many Canadians may experience wildfires burning in their area. These dangerous fires spread quickly and can devastate not only wildlife and natural areas, but also your home, business, or automobile. It’s important to be prepared to minimize the potential damage, know what to do in case of an emergency, and know what help is available if your home, business, or automobile is damaged.
Here are some tips to stay prepared for a wildfire:
- Prepare an emergency plan for your family and ensure everyone in your family knows the plan. Learn your evacuation routes and practice with your family, including pets to stay prepared.
- Assemble an emergency preparedness kit. This kit should include water, non-perishable food, radio, flashlight, first aid kit, N95 masks for smoke and more. See a full list of items recommended by the Red Cross here.
- Protect your home by removing any combustible material at least 1.5 meters away from your house, including cleaning and removing any debris from your gutters, roof, deck and balcony. Keep grass and weeds cut below 10cm.
- Keep yourself updated on the weather and watch for wildfire warnings, including evacuation alerts and evacuation orders. Listen to radio or TV for the latest weather updates in your area.
For more information about wildfires and insurance, visit our disaster portal.
Additional resources:
- Government of Canada: Get Prepared
- The Red Cross: Wildfires: Before, During & After
- Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre: Active Wildfires Map
Reminder: Review Your Insurance Policies
June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day, which serves as a reminder to review your insurance policies, so you know what coverage you have, before you need it.
When you are reviewing your insurance policies, evaluate changes on:
- Your property and possessions – this can include anything that may lead to a change in value, such as land evaluation increases or renovations.
- Vehicle use – check if there are any new drivers or any significant travel distance on your vehicle.
- Any significant changes to your business – this can include changes to location, products or services or any other major adjustments to your business.
For more insurance tips, check out our latest blog posts.
Public Presentations
Our team has been busy conducting public presentations across Canada to educate Canadians on what to do when they’re in an insurance dispute.
If your organization would like to book a virtual presentation with GIO, please contact admin@giocanada.org.
Connect with GIO
Stay in-the-know with the latest extreme weather news, get tips on everything insurance related and more by connecting with GIO on social media and by subscribing to our newsletter:
Photo: Yasmine Arfaoui