News Archives - Cade Associates Insurance Brokers Limited

Canada Post Strike 2018

Ross Fraser — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 09:00:48 +0000

As you are aware, as of October 22^nd, 2018, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have commenced rotating strikes across the country. Your insurance documentation may be sent to you by email in the case of longer strike action. To ensure ease of communication, please email clientservices@cadeinsurance.com or call us at (416) 234-9980 with your preferred contact email address.

With strike action potentially interrupting regular mail service, please note the following:

Regardless of a Canada Post strike, your insurance premiums remain due on their normal schedule. As such, please be sure to contact our office to discuss payment methods and options.
- If you ordinarily pay premiums by cheque, please note that we are configured for online banking payments with the major Canadian banks. Simply follow your bank’s instructions to add a payee and search for “Cade” or “Cade Insurance”. When prompted for your account number, please enter your Customer Code, which is found on your invoice. You may switch from cheque to online banking without first notifying our office.
- If you ordinarily receive mail-based reminder notices from the Insurer with respect to your payment plan, these may not be available during the strike action.
- Monthly pre-authorized payment plans will continue without interruption.
- Annual credit card payments may continue to be made by calling our office.
There are some circumstances in which the Insurer would ordinarily send a registered letter for correspondence. In these cases, where necessary, the Insurer may use couriers.

As always, should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call our office at (416) 234-9980 to discuss.

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Cannabis Legalizaiton in Canada

Ross Fraser — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 08:00:07 +0000

On October 17^th, 2018 Canada became just the second country in the world to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. While the implications of this legalization will be wide-reaching and have yet to be fully realized, there are some important insurance implications that you should keep in mind.

Driving Safety

Impaired driving remains an illegal act, whether the impairment is caused by alcohol or drugs, and is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada. With the legalization of cannabis, families are encouraged to discuss the dangers of drug-impaired driving with the same seriousness as drinking and driving has been approached in the past. New legislation allows Police to use approved drug screening devices, similar to their response when dealing with a suspected drunk driver. Remember that there is a zero-tolerance policy with respect to young and novice drivers.

For Auto Insurances purposes, a conviction for drug-impaired driving is comparable to a conviction for alcohol impaired driving. Both are considered Criminal Code offences and will result in significant premium surcharging or even declination of coverage. In no uncertain terms, driving while under the influence of any drugs or alcohol is unacceptable.

At Home

The new legislation allows Canadians to legally grow up to four plants per residence. Please note that this is a per residence limit and not a per person limit. If you are considering growing plants under the new legislation, please read the rules carefully to ensure you are in compliance. From a risk management perspective, growing can involve the use of specialized lighting or other equipment and licensed electricians should be consulted or used where necessary. As with any plant, growing inside your home can attract pests, which can cause a significant nuisance or even damage to the rest of your home. Cannabis plants in your home can also represent an allurement for ‘smash and grab’ style burglaries, meaning they should be stored out of sight and in a secured location. A monitored burglary and fire alarm system should be considered.

Each Insurer has their own approach to home-based growing, and we may be in touch with any specific underwriting questions or requirements your Insurer may have.

Host Liability

With the legalization of cannabis, hosts should approach service and consumption in the same manner as alcohol. As you may already know, whether you are hosting friends in your home or a work social event, you have potential liability for bodily injury or property damage to others, arising out of the negligent serving or distribution of alcohol. Hosts have been found responsible by the courts for the actions of their guests who consumed past the point of intoxication. If alcohol or cannabis will be consumed at your event, consider asking participants if they have a designated driver, ensure non-alcoholic beverages and food options are available, have cash on hand for cabs to prevent impaired driving, and keep a watch for over consumption or signs of intoxication. Call our office if you have any questions, or if you would like a quote for separate Host Liability Coverage for your event.

Travel

Despite some states having different rules, cannabis possession is still illegal under U.S. federal law – do not attempt to enter the United States with any cannabis. While there is some allowance while flying within Canada, cannabis is not permitted aboard international flights.

Insurance policies contain exclusions that apply when Insureds engage in illegal activity, so it is up to all of us to ensure we fully understand and adhere to the new laws of the land. To help, visit the following links:

Canada’s Cannabis Act Website – canada.ca/cannabis
Ontario’s Cannabis Website – https://www.ontario.ca/page/cannabis-legalization

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Aviva Community Fund 2017

Ross Fraser — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:36:01 +0000

Aviva Community Fund 2017

An exciting opportunity for non-profit organizations and local community organizations!! Aviva Canada, one of Canada’s leading Insurers, is now in its 9^th year of offering the Aviva Community Fund to invest in charitable community initiatives across Canada! Associations and non-profit organizations are invited to submit their ideas and projects for potential funding in one of three categories

Community Development – Education, skills training, culture, research and basic needs
Community Health – Health, sport, active living and play
Community Resilience – Environment, climate, disaster relief and prevention

Ideas can be small (requiring funding up to $50,000) or large (up to $100,000). Once your idea is submitted, spread the word – in person and online, because your ideas will be voted on by the public. Each person who signs up can cast 18 votes for the project or projects that excite them most.

This year, in celebration of Canada150, Aviva has created a new category exclusively for young social entrepreneurs aged 18-25 with the chance to be awarded up to $150,000 for projects focused on climate change and the environment with broad reach and scalability in Canada. If you or someone in your organization know a rising young star with big ideas for the environment, this is an amazing opportunity we hope you will pass along.

Idea submission opens September 13^th and closes October 2^nd with voting running from October 10^th – 19^th. To learn more about the Aviva Community Fund, visit www.avivacommunityfund.org. If you’re excited to submit and want to learn more about the process and how to craft an eligible idea: Click here to download the Idea Guide. If you do submit an idea, be sure to let us know by emailing clientservices@cadeinsurance.com so we can be a Broker Supporter of your initiative!

Good luck!

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Aviva Community Fund 2016 – Your Vote Is Needed!

Ross Fraser — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 17:54:15 +0000

Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, one of the largest suppliers of commercial and personal insurance in the country, has established over the past seven years an excellent community giving program, providing financial assistance to charitable community initiatives across the country. In 2016 the Aviva Community Fund has a pool of $1 million available for successful applicants. This year, one of our partners applied to Aviva to help fund a special initiative and they need your vote by October 28th!

Watersheds Canada is a federally incorporated non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity committed to providing programs in communities across the country to engage and help shoreline owners enhance and protect the health of lakes and rivers. Their proposal to the Aviva Community Fund is for funding to assist in the development of their Natural Edge Native Planting Software and App. The App will be a free turn-key tool for other non-profit organizations working on waterfront sustainability, allowing them to provide on-site, real-time personalized planting plans to property owners – enhancing the ever important ‘ribbon of life’ that protects Canada’s water.

We hope you will click the link below to learn more about the Natural Edge Native Planting Software and App and cast your votes in support of this great initiative!

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Canada Post Strike 2016

Ross Fraser — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 20:41:13 +0000

Despite several months of negotiations, after Saturday July 2nd, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will be in a position to declare legal strike action, following 72 hours of notice. If strike action interrupts regular mail service, please note the following:

Policy documentation and other mailings may be held temporarily by our office or by the Insurer in the event of a short strike action;
Documentation may be sent to you by email in the case of longer strike action. If you are not confident that we have your most up to date email information, please call our office at (416) 234-9980.
Please remember, premium payments are due to the Insurance Companies regardless of a Canada Post strike. As such, please be sure to contact our office to explore alternative payment options.
- Our office is able to accept payment through online banking from the major Canadian banks. If you would like to arrange payment by online banking, simply follow your bank’s instructions to add Cade Associates as a payee in your online banking system by searching “Cade” or “Cade Insurance”. When prompted for your account number, please enter your Customer Code, which is found on your invoice. If you ordinarily pay our office by cheque, you may use the online banking payment option without notifying us of the change.
There are some circumstances where a registered letter is ordinarily required for correspondence. In those cases, where necessary, couriers may be used.

As always, should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call our office to discuss.

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MasterChef Mary Berg

Ross Fraser — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 13:16:14 +0000

On June 19^th, 2016, the rest of the world learned what we have known all along – Mary Berg can COOK! During the Season 3 finale of MasterChef Canada, Mary faced off in a three-course competition against Jeremy Senaris where they were tasked with preparing an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. While Jeremy’s meal was impressive, the judges were blown away by Mary’s golden-borscht appetizer, surf-and-turf (beef tenderloin, fried oysters, and arugula and sea asparagus pesto), and financier dessert.

While her cooking was incredible, what shone through the entire season was Mary’s wonderful personality and drive to succeed. We couldn’t be more proud of Mary and her accomplishment and wish her all the very best as she pursues her passion!

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Spring Cottage Life Show 2016

Ross Fraser — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 17:00:42 +0000

The annual Spring Cottage Life Show is this weekend, April 1^st – 3^rd, returning again to the International Centre in Toronto. The Cade team will be joining with our partners, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) at their booth for the weekend, to talk all things cottage life!

This year, visitors to our booth will be invited to ‘Spin to Win’! Drop by our booth, spin the wheel, answer a simple quiz question about cottage life, and be entered into a draw to win a $250 gift card to Canadian Tire!

We will be at Booth #1278 in Hall 2 (near the food area!) and hope if you find yourself at the show, you will drop by and say hello!

For details about the show, tickets, and how to get there: CLICK HERE

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Auto Policy Changes

Ross Fraser — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:01:29 +0000

The Ontario Government, as part of the 2015 provincial budget, mandated changes to the Ontario Automobile Insurance product. With specific reference to the Accident Benefits section of the auto policy, specific revisions are being made to the limits available for injury sustained in an automobile accident by yourself or your passengers. You may have already received a letter sent directly from your Insurer providing an introduction to these measures.

These changes impact every auto policy in Ontario on their first renewal after June 1st, 2016.

Accident Benefits are an important part of your insurance portfolio and should be carefully thought out by all auto insurance policyholders. While full details are available in the links below, we will be also be contacting you before your policy is affected by these changes in order to outline the specific impact on your policy and present options for your consideration.

DETAILS OF 2016 CHANGES TO AUTO INSURANCE POLICY

2015 Ontario Budget – Auto Reforms (Insurance Bureau of Canada)
Amendments to Automobile Insurance Legislation and Regulations (Financial Securities Commission of Ontario)

Please keep an eye out for our mailing about these changes to your policy. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to give us a call at (416) 234-9980.

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Saying Farewell to Mary Berg

Ross Fraser — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:00:44 +0000

On March 15th, we bid farewell to broker Mary Berg as she leaves our office for new things!

If you had the opportunity to work with Mary, you know that we will all miss her bright personality, friendly smile, and delicious baking! Mary was with Cade Associates for more than 5 years, starting part time as she completed her Master’s degree and becoming a full broker several years ago.

While we are sad to see her go, we are following along in Mary’s journey as she competes in this season of MasterChef Canada on CTV. Join us Sunday nights as we cheer Mary on and wish her all the best as she explores her passion! There is a lot to learn about Mary Berg on the MasterChef Canada website – CLICK HERE for more information about Mary and the show!

In Mary’s absence, either Alysha, Andrew or Ross from our office will be connecting with Mary’s clients. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to call us at (416) 234-9980 or email us to discuss your policy.

Good luck Mary!

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