Notice to the insured

Important information about your home insurance policy renewal

To better meet the changing needs of consumers, the Insurance Bureau of Canada recently made some changes to its property insurance coverages. Consequently, we have updated all our home insurance policies to reflect these changes.

Please review the details below to learn about the changes to coverage that apply to your situation. We also suggest that you read your insurance documents to get an overview of the new coverage from which you now benefit.

For any question, please call us at 1-855-251-2525 to speak to one of our licensed insurance agents. They will be able to tell you about the different types of coverage available and make sure your home and possessions have the best protection for your needs.


Significant update to your automobile or home insurance policy dated May 10, 2018 regarding the conditions that will apply if you decide to cancel your insurance before the end of the policy term, that is, the percentage of the premium that will be withheld. Check out the new cancellation table for all the details.


 

Definitions

Old policy

Insured

Any person under 21 years of age in their care.

New policy

Insured

Any person under 18 years of age in their care.

Comments

The age for a person in the insured’s care to be covered has been lowered to 18. Any person under 18 years of age in the care of the named Insured is automatically an “insured”. This is in line with the age of majority in Quebec.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy

Insured

Even if temporarily residing away from the principal residence, a student.

New policy

Insured

A student who is dependent on the Insured or his or her spouse, provided that the dwelling building described on the Declarations serves as the named Insured’s primary residence.

Comments

For a student over 18 to be insured, he or she must meet the definition of “student” and be a dependent of the named Insured or his or her spouse, and the policy must cover the named Insured’s primary residence.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus(500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Old policy

Detached Private Structures

Means structures or buildings separated from the dwelling by a clear space or connected to the dwelling by a fence, utility line or similar connection only.

New policy

Detached private structure

Means a permanent structure or building on the premises separated from the dwelling building by a clear space or only connected to the dwelling building by a fence, utility line or similar connection. Such structures or buildings must not be used for residence purposes, either in whole or in part.

Comments

Detached private structures must be installed on the premises.

We have clarified that detached private structures must not be used for dwelling purposes.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy

Installations sanitaires

Les canalisations d’alimentation en eau, de distribution et d’évacuation d’eau des lieux assurés ainsi que les appareils et équipements reliés à ces canalisations.

New policy

Installation sanitaire

Les canalisations d’alimentation en eau, de distribution et d’évacuation d’eau sur les lieux assurés, ainsi que les appareils et équipements reliés à ces canalisations.

Comments

Afin de délimiter clairement l’espace où se trouvent ces installations, « des lieux » est remplacé par « sur les lieux ».

Policy type

Tous les contrats

Old policy

Premises

Means the land contained within the lot lines on which the dwelling is situated. Premises also include premises where a student insured by this policy is residing temporarily and private approaches to these. We also include private outbuildings of the dwelling, including boat houses and wharves, situated outside the lot line of the land on which the dwelling is situated, as well as private approaches giving access to these private outbuildings.

New policy

Premises
Premises located within the lot lines of the dwelling described on the Declarations.

Premises used as a residence by students insured under this insurance policy.

Comments

The definition no longer includes private approaches to the premises.

It also no longer includes outbuildings located outside the lot lines and private approaches leading to them.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Building and contents insurance - Priority Security(430.5)
Building and contents insurance - Priority Comfort(437.0)
Rented condo (436.5)

Old policy

Premises

Premises where you are residing temporarily or which you are using temporarily, as long as you do not own such premises.

New policy

Premises

Applicable to Section II – Civil Liability Coverages only:

Premises where you are residing temporarily or which you are using temporarily, provided that: – you do not own such premises; and – you are neither the tenant nor user of the premises under the terms of an agreement for more than 180 consecutive days.

Comments

To address the concept of “residing temporarily,” we have added a time limit. Beyond this timelimit, even if it is a temporary situation, you must declare this residence if you want civil liability coverage for it.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Section 1


Coverage 1 - Dwelling Building

Old policy

Property coverages

We insure:

Docks located on or adjacent to the premises.

New policy

Property damage coverages

When the following are located on an adjacent site, meaning a location in contact with the premises, we insure:

Docks located on dry land or installed along then shore of the premises.

Comments

Addition of “dry land” and “along the shore of the premises” to specify which docks are insured.

Policy type

All policies

Note:
For Tenants insurance, this coverage is in the policy section Coverage 2 – Personal Property (Contents).

For Condominium unit owners insurance, this coverage is in the policy section Coverage 1 –Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments.

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

New policy

Property damage coverages

Limitation of Amount Payable for Certain Property

We will pay a maximum amount of $5,000 for loss or damage caused by an insured peril to wind turbines, whether assembled or not, including their equipment and accessories.

Comments

New limitation for wind turbines

Policy type

All policies

Note:
For Tenants insurance, this limitation is in the policy section Coverage 2 – Personal Property(Contents).

For Condominium unit owners insurance, this coverage is in the policy section Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments.

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Immovable elements of your Unit:
200% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Unit Improvements and Betterments:
100% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property(Contents)

New policy

Property damage coverages

Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvement sand Betterments


200% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Comments

Both these coverages are now included in Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments, and the amount of insurance has been changed.

Policy type

Condominium unit owners insurance - Priority Comfort (436.0)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Immovable elements of your Unit:
250% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Unit Improvements and Betterments:
100% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

New policy

Property damage coverages

Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments

300% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Comments

Both these coverages are now included in Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments, and the amount of insurance has been changed.

Policy type

Condominium unit owners insurance - Priority Prestige (436.1)

Old Policy

Property coverages

Immovable elements of your Unit:
250% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Unit Improvements and Betterments:
200% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property(Contents)

New policy

Property damage coverages

Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvementsand Betterments

400% of amount of Coverage 2 - Personal property (Contents)

Comments

Both these coverages are now included in Coverage 1 – Dwelling and Improvements and Betterments, and the amount of insurance has been changed.

Policy type

Condominium unit owners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (501.0)

Coverage 2 - Personal property (contents)

Old policy    

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Property On the Premises

Motorized lawn mowers, other gardening equipment and snow blowers.

New policy    

Property damage coverages

Property Located on the Premises

Lawn mowers, snow blowers and garden-type tractors with a maximum power output of 22 kW (30 HP).

Comments

Addition of a maximum power output allowed.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy    

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Property On the Premises

Wheelchairs, scooters, including three or four-wheel scooters, and electric bicycles, with the capability of not exceeding a maximum speed of 32 km per hour.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Property Located on the Premises

Wheelchairs, three-wheeled scooters and four-wheeled scooters, with one seat, specifically designed for the carriage of a person who has a physical disability and used as such.

Comments

The description of the type of vehicle concerned has been revised, clarifying that the intent is to cover only those vehicles used as transportation aids by individuals with reduced mobility.

Note: Scooters and electric bicycles are mentionedin another subparagraph.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy    

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

While temporarily away from the premises

Motorized lawn mowers, other gardening equipment and snow blowers.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Property Temporarily Away From the Premises

Lawn mowers, snow blowers and garden-type tractors with a maximum power output of 22 kW (30 HP).

Comments

Addition of a maximum power output allowed.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

While temporarily away from the premises

Wheelchairs, scooters, including three or four-wheel scooters, and electric bicycles, with the capability of not exceeding a maximum speed of 32 km per hour.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Property Temporarily Away From the Premises

Wheelchairs, three-wheeled scooters and fourwheeled scooters, with one seat, specifically designed for the carriage of a person who has a physical disability and used as such.

Comments

The description of the type of vehicle concerned has been revised, clarifying that the intent is to cover only those vehicles used as transportation aids by individuals with reduced mobility.

Note: Scooters and electric bicycles are mentionedin another subparagraph.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Old policy    

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Optional Coverage Extensions - Personal Property

We insure:

Your personal property while it is temporarily away from your premises, in Canada or the continental United States of America.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Property Temporarily Away From the Premises

We insure:
a) Personal property that is usual to a dwellingand that you own or use, including the following motorized vehicles:
• Lawn mowers, snow blowers and garden-typetractors with a maximum power output of 22kW (30 HP);
• Boats or watercraft;
• Wheelchairs, three-wheeled scooters and four-wheeled scooters, with one seat, specifically designed for the carriage of aperson who has a physical disability and used as such;
• Golf remote-control caddies;
• The following electric vehicles with a maximum speed of 32 km/h:
– Scooters;
– Bicycles;
– Any other similar personal carrier;
• Electric vehicles for children with a maximum speed of 10 km/h.

b) Drawn machinery and trailers designed solely to transport a boat or watercraft and used as such.

Comments

There is now a list specifying the personal property that is covered while it is temporarily away from the premises. This was already the case for our other policy wordings.

Policy type

Building and contents insurance - Priority Security (430.5)
Building and contents insurance - Priority Comfort (437.0)
Rented condo (436.5)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Special limits of insurance

Garden-type tractors, including attachments and accessories, and drawn machinery.

New policy    

Property damage coverages

Limitation of Amount Payable for Certain Personal Property

Lawn mowers, garden-type tractors, snow blowers and drawn machinery, including their equipment and accessories.

Comments

Addition of lawn mowers and snow blowers in this limitation.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Special limits of insurance

Collectible cards (such as sports and artistic personality cards).

New policy

Property damage coverages

Limitation of Amount Payable for Certain Personal Property

Collectible cards.
Collectible cards include, but are not limited to, sports or entertainment personality cards.

Comments

Collectible cards are now included in the list of applicable limitations regardless of the occurrence causing the damage.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Special limits of insurance

Each pedal or electric bicycle, its equipment and accessories

New policy

Property damage coverages

Limitation of Amount Payable for Certain Personal Property

Each pedal or electric bicycle, including its equipment and accessories, whether or not attached to a bicycle.

Comments

Bicycles are now included in the list of applicable limitations regardless of the occurrence causing the damage.

Coverage for bicycle equipment and accessories is limited whether or not they are attached to the bicycle.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)

Building and contents insurance - Priority Security (430.5)
Building and contents insurance - Priority Comfort (437.0)
Rented condo (436.5)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Special limits of insurance

In case of theft.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Limitation of Amount Payable for Certain Personal Property

In the event of theft, loss or mysterious disappearance, for all property items belonging to a category, we will pay a maximum amount of...

Comments

This section now applies not only in the event of theft, but also in the event of loss or mysterious disappearance.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Coverage 4 - Additional living expense and fair rental value

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

We insure, up to a total of the amount stated inthe Declarations for Coverage 4, your additional living expense and/or loss of fair rental value if your dwelling, or the part of your dwelling or detached private structures rented or held for rental, is rendered unfit for occupancy:

Because access to your dwelling is prohibited by order of civil authorities, but only when such order is given for mass evacuation as a direct result of a sudden and accidental event within Canada or the United States of America. You are insured for a period not exceeding 2 weeks from the date of the order of evacuation.

Exclusions Pollution and Natural earth movements under Common Exclusions do not apply to the above paragraph.

New policy

Property damage coverages

We insure:

Additional living expense:

When a civil authority prohibits access to the premises or orders the premises to be evacuated as a direct result of an event occurring off the premises and caused by an insured peril.

Payment will be made for a period not exceeding 14 days per event.

The common exclusion Loss or Damage Caused by a Pollutant does not apply to the coverage outlined in paragraph b).

Comments

To be covered, the event must be caused by an insured peril.

All exclusions apply except Loss or Damage Caused by a Pollutant.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

We insure, up to a total of the amount stated in the Declarations for Coverage 4, your addition alliving expense and/or loss of fair rental value if your dwelling, or the part of your dwelling or detached private structures rented or held for rental, is rendered unfit for occupancy.

Because access to your dwelling is prohibited by order of civil authorities, but only when such order is given for mass evacuation as a direct result of a sudden and accidental event within Canada or the United States of America. You are insured for a period not exceeding 2 weeks from the date of the order of evacuation.

Exclusions Pollution and Natural earth movements under Common Exclusions do not apply to the above paragraph.

New policy

Property damage coverages

We insure:

Loss of fair rental value:

When a civil authority prohibits access to the premises or orders the premises to be evacuated as a direct result of an event occurring off the premises and caused by an insured peril.

Payment will be made for a period not exceeding 14 days per event.

The common exclusion Loss or Damage Caused by a Pollutant does not apply to the coverage outlined in paragraph b).

Comments

To be covered, the event must be caused by an insured peril.

All exclusions apply except Loss or Damage Caused by a Pollutant.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Extensions of coverage

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Tear Out

We will replace or repair any interior parts of the insured building that must be removed or torn apart before any repairs can be made to the plumbing system, domestic water container or appliance or its equipment having caused insured water damage. "Domestic water container or appliance" includes, but is not limited to, fish tanks, water beds, heating, air conditioning or fire extinguishing systems, swimming pools, spas, saunas, fountains and basins.

New policy

Property damage coverages

Tear Out and Repair

We will pay the cost of tearing out and repairing any interior parts of the building as needed to allow repairs to be made to the plumbing system, domestic water containers or appliances or their equipment having caused insured water damage.

HOWEVER, WE WILL NOT PAY any increase in the cost of repairing, replacing or reconstructing undamaged property resulting from changes in the height, size or style of the spa or the inground swimming pool.

Comments

If the cost of repairing, replacing or reconstructing undamaged property is increased because of changes in the height, size or style of the spa or inground pool, the difference in cost is not covered.

Policy type

All policies

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Credit or Debit Cards and Forgery

Food Spoilage

Change of Temperature

Lock Replacement, Rekeying or Repair

New policy

Property damage coverages

Credit or Debit Cards and Forgery

Food in a Freezer or Refrigerator

Change of Temperature

Lock Repair, Rekeying or Replacement

Comments

The amounts of insurance allowed for these extensions of coverage are now included in (not over and above) the amounts of insurance provided for Coverages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige plus (500.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Old policy

Property coverages

 

Ancien contrat

 

Ancien contrat

Data

New policy

Property damage coverages

Loss of Computer Data

Comments

The amount of insurance allowed for this extension of coverage is now included in (not over andabove) the amounts of insurance provided for Coverages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Policy type

Homeowners insurance - Priority Security (432.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Comfort (438.0)
Homeowners insurance - Priority Prestige (439.0)

Tenants insurance - Priority Comfort (435.7)
Tenants insurance - Priority Prestige (435.9)

Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityComfort (436.0)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige (436.1)
Condominium unit owners insurance - PriorityPrestige plus (501.0)

Building and contents insurance - Priority Security(430.5)
Building and contents insurance - Priority Comfort(437.0)

Rented condo (436.5)