Insurance Blogs hosted by Canadian Underwriter
Insurance Blogs hosted by Canadian Underwriter
In 2015, auto insurance fraud cost Ontario consumers an estimated $1.3 billion – 13% of total auto insurance premiums. This considerable cost suggests that thousands of people are committing this type of crime. How do the perpetrators commit fraud? Exaggerating…
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The Ontario government should establish a new organization that would perform the functions currently performed by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (DICO), an expert advisory panel said in a report released Monday.
The panel recommends that a new Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) be established, and it should exercise both prudential and market conduct functions. The panel – comprised of George Cooke, James Daw and Lawrence Ritchie – made its recommendation to create FSRA in an interim report released in November, 2015. The final report, dated March 31, was made public Monday and contains 44 recommendations.
The mandate review was partly made necessary with the transfer of responsibility for operating an auto insurance dispute resolution system from FSCO to Ministry of the Attorney General’s Licence Appeal Tribunal on April 1, 2016.
Governance
The report suggests that FSRA should consolidate functions, but it should have separate divisions for the regulation of market conduct; prudential oversight; and pension administration. These divisions of the regulator should operate in a coordinated manner, but each division should be insulated from the routine regulatory activities, pressures and resource demands of other divisions.
FSRA should be a self-funded corporation without share capital, operationally independent of government, yet accountable to the Legislature through the Minister of Finance. The FSRA should be outside of the Ontario Public Service and be empowered to hire its personnel from outside of the Ontario Public Service’s collective agreements, compensation restraints, and other hiring restraints to support its ability to recruit professionals and industry expertise as it deems necessary.
FSRA should have a skills-based Board of Directors appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Board would oversee FSRA’s operations and the Board should have the authority to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Board Chair should report directly to the Minister of Finance.
FSRA’s Board should be given authority to make rules that would be enforceable pursuant to the statute, having a similar authority as Cabinet Regulations.
Auto Insurance Rate Regulation
The panel did not make any recommendations with respect to the prior approval of auto insurance. However, it did recommend that FSRA’s Board should be obliged and empowered to decide how auto insurance rates are to be regulated and make use of its rule-making authority to scope out a rate approval process.
The view of the panel is that when it comes to the regulation of automobile insurance rates, FSCO is not ultimately protecting the public interest or enhancing confidence in the sector.
Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund
The panel recommends that responsibility for operating the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund (MVACF) be transferred to the Facility Association (FA), a non-profit organization funded by automobile insurers in the provinces and territories that operate private insurance systems. This responsibility would fit well with the FA’s original purpose, which is to act as the ‘insurer of last resort’ for high-risk drivers. The FA already operates uninsured motorist funds similar to the MVACF in the Atlantic Provinces.
Fraud Prevention
The panel indicated that the new mandate should require FSRA to utilize its statutory authorities to adequately, firmly and consistently discourage fraudulent activities or behaviours that mislead or harm consumers and pension plan beneficiaries.
FSRA should be directed to identify and seek to eliminate gaps in protection for consumers who might be defrauded by licensed sales agents, brokers and corporations. FSRA should also have the authority to establish a fraud compensation fund such as exists in Quebec if or where enhancements to mandatory insurance coverage would not fully close current gaps.
There is no word from the government on implementing the panel’s recommendations.
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Does the privacy consent on the last page of Ontario’s prescribed Application for Accident Benefits (OCF-1) form hold water? In Economical v. Fairview Assessment Centre, the insurer claimed fraud and misrepresentation against an assessment centre and various (alleged) treatment providers…
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New inspection powers that were included in the Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act, 2014 come into effect on April 1, 2015.The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 has amended to regulate consumer transactions involving tow and storage…
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The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) has come out in favour of Bill 171, the Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act. The IBAO’s position, as quoted in their press release, is that unless Bill 171 is passed…
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This week the Ontario government introduced Bill 189, the Roadside Assistance Protection Act, which, if passed, will finally introduce a regulatory scheme to the towing industry. This will be welcome news to consumers, insurance companies and honest towing companies.
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Canadian businesses lose an estimated $5 billion annually as a result of cargo theft. Organized by a sophisticated network of criminals, cargo theft involves stealing trucks or trailers full of merchandise to sell for a quick profit. This organized crime…
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The Ontario government has introduced new legislation “Fighting Fraud and Reducing Insurance Rates Act” to reduce auto insurance costs, fight fraud and protect consumers. IBC welcomes the proposed legislation, which reflects several recommendations from the property and casualty insurance industry.…
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IBC is shining a spotlight on the huge problem of insurance fraud. This year’s theme to consumers is “Don’t Be Scammed.” The insurance industry joins forces with Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Toronto Police Services and other organizations all involved…
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