We at Cassidy & Young acknowledge that our head office is located on the traditional territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations. We also recognize that these lands are part of the traditional territory of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinabeg peoples. We honour the ancestors, past and present, and commit to learning, listening, and building stronger relationships as part of genuine reconciliation.
Insurance Brokers as Allies
Insurance is meant to provide peace of mind — a safety net when the unexpected happens. But for many Indigenous communities across Ontario, accessing fair and affordable coverage isn’t always straightforward.
Geography, legislation, and systemic inequities often leave individuals and families with limited or costly insurance options — highlighting the critical role brokers can play. We aren’t just policy matchmakers; we can be advocates, educators, and allies.
Recent research from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) underscores this reality: mainstream insurance models often overlook the unique risks facing Indigenous housing, especially in floodplains or wildfire-prone areas, leading to higher premiums or outright lack of coverage (CMHC, 2024).
Unique Insurance Barriers
Insurance challenges for Indigenous communities are shaped by several overlapping factors:
Location & Risk Exposure
- Many homes on reserve land are situated in areas at higher risk for flooding or wildfires. Because most insurers use standard risk models that don’t account for these realities, premiums can be inflated — or coverage denied altogether (CMHC, 2024).
- Indigenous communities are disproportionately situated in high-risk flood areas compared to the general Canadian population. While approximately 10% of Canadians live in such zones, nearly 90% of First Nations communities are exposed due to historical reserve placements near rivers for economic, spiritual, and food-related purposes (McNeil, 2025).
Legislative Frameworks
Under the Indian Act, reserve lands are legally considered Crown land. This complicates property rights and liability, making insurance access challenging (CMHC, 2024).
Cost of Construction
In remote and rural areas, rebuilding costs are often higher due to limited access to labour, transportation, and materials. This drives up replacement values — and therefore, premiums.
Digital & Provider Access
Some communities face reduced internet access, making online applications or digital claim processes difficult. On top of that, fewer insurers are willing to operate in remote areas, further limiting choice.
Discrimination & Systemic Inequities
Indigenous clients may face overt discrimination based on community or postal code. For example, an Indigenous man in Quebec was denied a car insurance quote solely because he lived on a reserve. The Human Rights Commission later ruled this racial discrimination, ordering the insurer to pay damages and ensure geographic exclusions are evidence-based and applied fairly (CBC News, 2025).
While this specific case took place in Quebec, it raises broader questions about systemic fairness in the industry. In Ontario, auto insurers are subject to the “all comers” rule which requires them to provide coverage to any eligible driver, regardless of where they live. This regulation helps prevent discriminatory exclusions — but it doesn’t erase other systemic barriers that Indigenous clients may still face when seeking fair and affordable coverage.
The Broker’s Role
Brokers have the ability — and responsibility — to help close these gaps. Here’s how:
Market Access & Advocacy
- Unlike direct insurers, brokers can shop multiple markets, allowing coverage where some carriers may decline.
- By listening, educating clients, and advocating for inclusive practices, brokers can help reduce systemic inequities and improve trust (CBC News, 2025; Tessier & Wyatt, 2025).
Education & Empowerment
Insurance language can be dense and technical. Brokers can simplify the fine print, explain lesser-known discounts, and ensure clients understand what their coverage really means. Educating insurers and holding them accountable to the Indigenous histories and worldviews builds cultural competency, helping avoid blind spots in risk assessment (Tessier & Wyatt, 2025).
Trust & Relationship-Building
Historical and ongoing inequities have understandably created mistrust toward financial institutions. By listening first and tailoring solutions to each client’s circumstances, brokers can begin rebuilding that trust, one relationship at a time.
Cultural Sensitivity
CMHC highlights the importance of integrating Indigenous worldviews, like the Cree principle of “living in a good way,” into risk planning and insurance design (CMHC, 2024).
Incorporating Different Worldviews
Insurance has traditionally been built on Western models of risk, focusing on statistical loss projections, financial compensation, and restoration after damage. While these considerations are important, they can overlook the cultural and communal dimensions of safety and protection.
The CMHC report urges the insurance industry to integrate Indigenous perspectives into risk assessment and management. For example, the Cree principle of “miyo-pimâtisiwin” — often translated as “living in a good way” — emphasizes sustainability, balance, and collective well-being, which can inform more holistic and culturally aligned insurance solutions (CMHC, 2024).
Practical Ways Brokers Can Support Indigenous Clients
Being an ally isn’t abstract — it’s about meaningful action:
- Explore multi-policy, student, tax exclusions or monitored alarm discounts to make premiums more affordable.
- Work with insurers who extend coverage to properties on reserve land.
- Help clients in rural communities find coverage that accounts for unique construction and replacement costs.
- Facilitating collaboration between Indigenous communities to share best practices for risk mitigation and asset protection (Tessier & Wyatt, 2025).
- Offer personalized service that respects cultural context and individual needs. Awareness of historical and systemic barriers is essential for designing solutions that are fair, culturally informed, and sustainable (McNeil, 2025; Meloche, 2025).
Moving Forward Together
Reconciliation isn’t just about acknowledging history — it’s about addressing inequities that persist in our systems today. Insurance may be one piece of a bigger picture, but it’s one where brokers can make a real difference.
At Cassidy & Young, we are committed to listening, learning, and taking concrete steps as allies to ensure fair, accessible insurance for all communities.
Because every family deserves protection.
References
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). (2024, June 20). Addressing Indigenous insurance challenges. CMHC Observer. Retrieved from https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/observer/2024/addressing-indigenous-insurance-challenges
- · McNeil, T. (2025). Remarks at CatIQ Connect Conference, Inclusivity in Disaster Management Session. Stó:lo Tribal Council, British Columbia.
- · Meloche, K. (2025). Senior Manager, Disaster Risk Management, Canadian Red Cross. Commentary at CatIQ Connect Conference, Inclusivity in Disaster Management Session.
- · Tessier, P., & Wyatt, C. (2025). What’s On Dec? Canadian Underwriter Podcast: Insurance challenges and opportunities for First Nations communities [Podcast transcript]. Canadian Underwriter.
- · CBC News. (2025). Indigenous man denied insurance on reserve found victim of racial discrimination.
