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O. Reg. 347/04: AGENTS
under Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. I.8
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agents
Consolidation Period: From June 2, 2023 to the e-Laws currency date.
Last amendment: 113/23.
Legislative History: 68/07, 31/11, 297/11, 261/14, 145/19, 113/23.
This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.
Definitions
Definitions
1. (1) In this Regulation,
“accident and sickness insurance licence” means a licence referred to in paragraph 2 of subsection 392.2 (2) of the Act; (“permis d’assurance contre les accidents et la maladie”)
“general insurance licence” means a licence referred to in paragraph 3 of subsection 392.2 (2) of the Act; (“permis d’assurance de dommages”)
“Level II life insurance examination” means an examination set by the Superintendent for agents who held a life insurance licence before July 1, 2003 and who have held a life insurance licence for at least two years; (“examen d’assurance-vie de niveau II”)
“life insurance licence” means a licence referred to in paragraph 1 of subsection 392.2 (2) of the Act; (“permis d’assurance-vie”)
“Life Licence Qualification Program” means a program approved by the Chief Executive Officer for applicants for accident and sickness insurance licences and life insurance licences. (“programme de qualification du permis d’assurance-vie”) O. Reg. 347/04, s. 1 (1); O. Reg. 261/14, s. 1; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2) For the purposes of this Regulation, a determination of the length of time that a person has held a life insurance licence may include time that the person held a licence in another province or territory of Canada or in a state of the United States of America, if the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the licence is equivalent to an Ontario life insurance licence. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 1 (2); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Licences
Requirement for licence
2. (1) No individual, partnership or corporation shall act as an agent unless the individual, partnership or corporation is licensed under this Regulation. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 2 (1).
(2) Subsection (1) applies to an individual, corporation or partnership who acts as an agent even if they are an employee, director, officer, shareholder or partner of an agent licensed under this Regulation. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 2 (2).
Application for licence
3. (1) An application for an agent’s licence shall be accompanied by,
(a) the certificate of a sponsoring insurer certifying that the applicant is appointed to act as the insurer’s agent; and
(b) a statement by the sponsoring insurer indicating that it has taken steps to screen the applicant and is satisfied that the applicant is suitable to carry on business as an agent. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 3 (1).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an application by a corporation or partnership for a life insurance licence. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 3 (2).
(3) An application for an agent’s licence shall be in a form obtained from the Chief Executive Officer. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 3 (3); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Qualifications for licence
4. (1) An applicant for a licence shall be granted a licence if the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the applicant,
(a) is of good character and reputation;
(b) is possessed of a reasonable educational background, if the applicant is an individual;
(c) if previously employed or engaged in business, has a satisfactory record in the employment or business;
(d) has completed a course acceptable to the Chief Executive Officer for the Life Licence Qualification Program and passed the examination approved by the Chief Executive Officer for the Program, if the applicant is an individual and is applying for a life insurance licence;
(e) has completed the accident and sickness component of a course acceptable to the Chief Executive Officer for the Life Licence Qualification Program and passed the examination approved by the Chief Executive Officer that relates to that component of the Program, if the applicant is an individual and is applying for an accident and sickness insurance licence;
(f) has passed a qualifying examination approved by the Chief Executive Officer for the purpose, if the applicant is an individual and is applying for a general insurance licence;
(g) continues to have the qualifications tested by the examination referred to in clause (d), the examination referred to in clause (e) or the examination referred to in clause (f), as the case may be, if the applicant is an individual who previously held a licence of the class he or she is applying for but does not currently hold a licence of that class;
(h) is not engaged in any business or occupation that would jeopardize the applicant’s integrity, independence or competence as an agent;
(i) is otherwise a suitable person to receive a licence;
(j) intends to hold himself, herself or itself out publicly and carry on business in good faith as an agent;
(k) has not made the application for the purpose of obtaining a licence to act as an agent in respect of any particular risk or risks or directly or indirectly to obtain an agent’s commission for insurance on the applicant’s own life or property or on the lives or property of the applicant’s family, employer or fellow employees; and
(l) has a mailing address in Ontario that is known to the Chief Executive Officer, that is not a post office box and that is suitable to permit service by registered mail. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 4 (1); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2) An individual may be granted a licence even if he or she does not meet the qualifications described in clause (1) (d), (e) or (f) if the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the individual has qualifications equivalent to the qualifications described in clause (1) (d), (e) or (f), as the case may be. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 4 (2); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2.1) An individual shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 4 (1) (d) only, to meet the qualifications described in that clause if he or she is applying for the renewal of a life insurance licence and the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the individual was previously deemed to have met the qualifications. O. Reg. 261/14, s. 2; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2.2) An individual shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 4 (1) (e) only, to meet the qualifications described in that clause if he or she is applying for the renewal of an accident and sickness insurance licence and the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the individual was previously deemed to have met the qualifications. O. Reg. 261/14, s. 2; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2.3) An individual shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 4 (1) (g) only, to continue to have the qualifications tested by the examination referred to in clause 4 (1) (d) if,
(a) the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the individual continues to have the qualifications tested by the Level II life insurance examination; and
(b) the individual,
(i) previously passed that examination, or
(ii) was previously determined by the Chief Executive Officer to have the qualifications tested by that examination. O. Reg. 261/14, s. 2; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2.4) An individual shall be deemed, for the purposes of clause 4 (1) (g) only, to continue to have the qualifications tested by the examination referred to in clause 4 (1) (e) if,
(a) the Chief Executive Officer is satisfied that the individual continues to have the qualifications tested by the examination approved by the Chief Executive Officer for individuals who applied before January 1, 2003 to write the examination for accident and sickness insurance licenses; and
(b) the individual,
(i) previously passed that examination, or
(ii) was previously determined by the Chief Executive Officer to have the qualifications tested by that examination. O. Reg. 261/14, s. 2; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(3) An individual shall be granted a licence even if he or she does not meet the qualifications described in clause (1) (d), (e) or (f) if,
(a) the individual is a resident of a province, other than Ontario, or territory of Canada that is a party to the Agreement on Internal Trade as defined in subsection 2 (1) of the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009;
(b) the individual produces a certificate in good standing from the authority that licences or regulates insurance agents in the province or territory in which the individual resides that certifies that the individual is licensed for the class of insurance for which the application is made;
(c) the individual demonstrates knowledge of matters applicable to practising as an insurance agent in Ontario, if this is required by the Chief Executive Officer of all applicants under this subsection, and if so required, in the manner required by the Chief Executive Officer, which shall not include material additional training, experience, examinations or assessments; and
(d) the individual complies with any requirements for insurance agents that are listed on the website of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities or other website specified in a regulation made under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 pursuant to subsection 9 (3) of that Act. O. Reg. 297/11, s. 1; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(4) Despite subsection (3), if an individual’s certificate referred to in clause (3) (b) is subject to a condition, the Chief Executive Officer may,
(a) impose an equivalent condition on the agent’s licence issued to the individual; or
(b) refuse to issue an agent’s licence to the individual, if the Chief Executive Officer cannot impose an equivalent condition on the agent’s licence. O. Reg. 297/11, s. 1; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(5) An individual may be granted a licence even if he or she does not meet the qualifications described in clause (1) (d), (e) or (f) if,
(a) the individual is a resident of a state of the United States;
(b) the individual produces a certificate in good standing from the authority that licences or regulates insurance agents in the state in which the individual resides that certifies that the individual is licensed for the class of insurance for which the application is made; and
(c) the individual demonstrates knowledge of matters applicable to practising as an insurance agent in Ontario, if required by the Chief Executive Officer, and if so required, in the manner required by the Chief Executive Officer. O. Reg. 297/11, s. 1; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Name
5. (1) A licence shall not be issued to an applicant who is not a corporation and who carries on business alone in a name other than the applicant’s own. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 5 (1).
(2) Despite subsection (1), a licence may be issued to an applicant described in that subsection if the applicant has purchased the business and uses the name of the seller together with the applicant’s own for a period not exceeding three years. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 5 (2).
Change in agent’s contact information
5.1 An agent licensed under this Regulation shall, if the agent’s mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number or fax number changes, provide the Chief Executive Officer with the new address or number within five days after the change is effective. O. Reg. 297/11, s. 2; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Expiration of licence
6. A licence expires on the date specified in the licence or, if no date is specified, on the second anniversary of the date the licence was last issued or renewed. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 6.
Application for renewal of licence
7. (1) An application for renewal of a licence shall be made in the same manner as for a licence in the first instance. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 7 (1).
(2) Despite subsection (1), subsection 3 (1) of this Regulation does not apply in respect of an application for the renewal of a life insurance licence if the applicant has held a life insurance licence for at least two years. O. Reg. 261/14, s. 3.
(3) The Chief Executive Officer may require an applicant for renewal of licence to file,
(a) a return, verified by a statutory declaration, showing the applicant’s accounts payable and accounts receivable, together with the time when each account receivable first became due;
(b) a financial statement of the applicant’s insurance agency operations, verified by a public accountant, chartered accountant or similarly qualified person;
(c) statements from persons who deliver continuing education courses, certifying which courses have been completed by the applicant;
(d) a statement certifying that the applicant maintains errors and omissions insurance or another form of financial guarantee in accordance with section 13, or a copy of the policy or certificate of the insurance or evidence of the financial guarantee; and
(e) such other information as the Chief Executive Officer may require. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 7 (3); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(4) An application for renewal of a licence may be refused on any grounds on which the Chief Executive Officer is authorized to suspend or revoke the licence. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 7 (4); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Suspension or revocation of licence
8. The Chief Executive Officer may suspend or revoke a licence on any grounds on which an application for a licence may be refused or if, after due investigation and hearing, it appears to the Chief Executive Officer that the licensee,
(a) has violated any provision of the licence in the licensee’s operations as an agent;
(b) has made a material misstatement or omission in the application for the licence;
(c) has been guilty of a fraudulent act or practice; or
(d) has demonstrated incompetence or untrustworthiness to transact the insurance agency business for which the licence has been granted. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 8; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Exemptions from licensing
9. (1) Subsection 392.2 (6) of the Act and section 2 of this Regulation do not apply to the following persons in the following circumstances:
1. A collector of insurance premiums who does not solicit applications for or the renewal or continuance of insurance contracts or act or aid in negotiating insurance contracts or the renewal of insurance contracts, if the collector’s collection fee does not exceed 5 per cent of any amount collected.
2. An officer or a salaried employee of the head office of a fraternal society who solicits insurance contracts on behalf of the society and does not receive any commission.
3. A member of a fraternal society who solicits insurance contracts on behalf of the society and who is not an officer or salaried employee described in paragraph 2, unless the member devotes or intends to devote more than half of his or her time to soliciting those contracts or has in the previous 12 months solicited and procured life insurance contracts on behalf of the society in an amount in excess of $20,000.
4. An officer or salaried employee of the head office of an insurer who solicits contracts of life insurance and accident and sickness insurance on behalf of the insurer and who does not receive any commission.
5. A transportation company or an officer or employee of a transportation company, when acting as an agent for an insurer with respect to travel insurance, accident and sickness insurance or baggage insurance. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 9 (1); O. Reg. 68/07, s. 1; O. Reg. 261/14, s. 4.
(2) Paragraph 4 of subsection (1) does not apply without the written approval of the Chief Executive Officer to an officer or employee whose application for a licence as an agent has been refused or whose licence as an agent has been revoked or suspended. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 9 (2); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Appointment and Termination of Agents
Appointment of agent
10. (1) A sponsoring insurer that appoints an agent, by written contract or otherwise, shall forthwith notify the Chief Executive Officer in writing of the appointment, giving the full name, address and licence number of the agent. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 10 (1); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2) Subsection (1) and subsections 392.6 (1), (2) and (3) of the Act do not apply in respect of an agent who holds a life insurance licence if,
(a) the agent is a corporation or partnership; or
(b) the agent has held a life insurance licence for at least two years. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 10 (2); O. Reg. 261/14, s. 5.
Return of licence
11. (1) If a sponsoring insurer that has certified its appointment of an agent to the Chief Executive Officer terminates the appointment, the agent shall forthwith notify the Chief Executive Officer in writing of that fact and shall return the agent’s licence to the Chief Executive Officer. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 11 (1); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of an agent who has held a life insurance licence for at least two years. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 11 (2).
Insurer’s Compliance System
Insurer’s compliance system
12. (1) Every insurer that authorizes one or more agents to act on behalf of the insurer shall establish and maintain a system that is reasonably designed to ensure that each agent complies with the Act, the regulations, the Authority rules and the agent’s licence. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 12 (1); O. Reg. 113/23, s. 1.
(2) The system referred to in subsection (1) must screen each agent for suitability to carry on business as an agent. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 12 (2).
(3) An insurer shall report to the Chief Executive Officer if it has reasonable grounds to believe that an agent who acts on behalf of the insurer is not suitable to carry on business as an agent. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 12 (3); O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Duties of Life Insurance Agents
Errors and omissions insurance
13. An agent who holds a life insurance licence shall maintain,
(a) errors and omissions insurance in a form approved by the Chief Executive Officer in an amount of at least $1,000,000 in respect of any one occurrence with extended coverage for loss resulting from fraudulent acts; or
(b) another form of financial guarantee in a form approved by the Chief Executive Officer in an amount of at least $1,000,000 in respect of any one occurrence. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 13; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 1, 3.
Continuing education
14. An individual who holds a life insurance licence shall complete at least 30 hours every two years of continuing education acceptable to the Chief Executive Officer in respect of life insurance. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 14; O. Reg. 145/19, s. 3.
Disclosure of insurers, etc.
15. (1) An individual who holds a life insurance licence shall disclose in writing the names of all the insurers that the individual represents to every prospective insured and to every insured who makes an application to renew or replace a policy of life insurance. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 15 (1).
(2) An individual who holds a life insurance licence shall disclose in writing the names of all the providers of financial products or services that the individual represents to every prospective purchaser of a financial product or service other than insurance. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 15 (2).
Conflicts of interest
16. An agent who holds a life insurance licence shall disclose in writing to a client or prospective client any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest of the agent that is associated with a transaction or recommendation. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 16.
Prohibited conduct
17. An agent who holds a life insurance licence shall not,
(a) offer inducement or use coercion or undue influence in order to control, direct or secure insurance business;
(b) for the purpose of encouraging the insured under an existing contract of life insurance to enter into another contract of life insurance, directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce the insured to,
(i) allow the existing contract to lapse, contrary to the insured’s interests,
(ii) surrender the existing contract for cash, paid up or extended insurance, or other valuable consideration, contrary to the insured’s interests, or
(iii) borrow a substantial amount against the existing contract, whether in a single loan or over a period of time, contrary to the insured’s interests;
(c) make a false or misleading statement or representation in the solicitation or registration of insurance;
(d) make or deliver an incomplete comparison of any policy or contract of insurance with that of another insurer in the solicitation or registration of insurance;
(e) coerce or propose, directly or indirectly, to coerce a prospective buyer of life insurance through the influence of a professional or a business relationship or otherwise to give a preference with respect to the policy of life insurance that would not otherwise be given on the effecting of a life insurance contract; or
(f) hold himself, herself or itself out, directly or indirectly, by representation or omission, in a way that is misleading in respect of the insurers on whose behalf the agent acts. O. Reg. 347/04, s. 17.
Life insurance to fund expenses for funeral, cemetery, etc.
17.1 (1) In this section,
“licensed services” and “licensed supplies” have the meanings assigned by subsection 1 (1) of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002; (“fournitures autorisées”, “services autorisés”)
“contract to fund funeral, burial or cremation expenses” means a contract of life insurance the proceeds of which are intended to be used primarily to fund, directly or indirectly, the purchase of licensed services or licensed supplies. (“contrat servant à financer des frais funéraires, d’enterrement ou de crémation”) O. Reg. 31/11, s. 1 (1).
(2) An agent who holds a life insurance licence,
(a) shall not contact, by telephone or in person, any person for the purpose of soliciting the making or negotiation of a contract to fund funeral, burial or cremation expenses unless the person has requested the agent to contact him or her for that purpose;
(b) shall not contact by any means any person who is in a hospital, long-term care home or hospice for the purpose of soliciting the making or negotiation of a contract to fund funeral, burial or cremation expenses unless the person has requested the agent to contact him or her for that purpose; and
(c) shall disclose in writing to every prospective purchaser of a contract to fund funeral, burial or cremation expenses that the purchase under the contract does not constitute the purchase of licensed services or licensed supplies. O. Reg. 31/11, s. 1.
Transition
Transition
18. (1) The reference in the definition of “Life Licence Qualification Program” in subsection 1 (1) to a program approved by the Chief Executive Officer is deemed to include the last such program approved by the Superintendent prior to the day section 22 of Schedule 13 to the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 came into force until the Chief Executive Officer approves a subsequent program. O. Reg. 145/19, s. 2.
(2) References in section 4 to a course acceptable to the Chief Executive Officer or to an examination approved by the Chief Executive Officer are deemed to include the last course acceptable to the Superintendent or the last examination approved by the Superintendent, as the case may be, prior to the day section 22 of Schedule 13 to the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 came into force until the Chief Executive Officer finds a subsequent course acceptable or approves a subsequent examination. O. Reg. 145/19, s. 2.
(3) For the purposes of subclauses 4 (2.3) (b) (ii) and 4 (2.4) (b) (ii), an individual meets the requirements of those subclauses if the individual was previously determined by the Superintendent to have the necessary qualifications. O. Reg. 145/19, s. 2.
(4) References in section 13 to a form approved by the Chief Executive Officer are deemed to include the last form approved by the Superintendent for the purposes of that section prior to the day section 22 of Schedule 13 to the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 came into force until the Chief Executive Officer approves a subsequent form for the purposes of that section. O. Reg. 145/19, s. 2.
(5) The reference in section 14 to continuing education acceptable to the Chief Executive Officer in respect of life insurance is deemed to include continuing education that was acceptable to the Superintendent immediately prior to the day section 22 of Schedule 13 to the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018 came into force. O. Reg. 145/19, s. 2.
19.-23. Revoked: O. Reg. 261/14, s. 6.
24. Omitted (revokes other Regulations). O. Reg. 347/04, s. 24.