Legal Policies

At Northbridge, we want to provide an open and accessible environment for everyone who works at or visits our offices. It’s our policy to follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity that are outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

The Accessibility Standards Policy That We’ve Put in Place Applies To:
  • Employees
  • Volunteers
  • Agents and/or contractors who deal with the public or other third parties representing Northbridge
  • Anyone who takes part in the development of Northbridge’s policies, practices and procedures
In Keeping With the Principles Behind Our Accessibility Standards Policy, We’ll Make an Effort To:
  • Ensure that all individuals receive the same value and quality of service.
  • Enable individuals with disabilities to do things they need to do, at their own pace, as long as it doesn’t present a safety risk.
  • Find alternative ways to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner. We’ll provide adequate notice if there are any service disruptions that might temporarily prevent access.
  • Take individual needs into account.
  • Communicate with the individual’s disability in mind.
  • Ensure that job accommodations are provided for employees with disabilities.
  • Ensure that accessibility will be considered during all phases of the employment relationship, including performance management and career development.

We’ll provide training to all current and new staff members to ensure that accessibility continues to be an integral part of our daily business operations.

If Assistance is Required

Individuals with disabilities are welcome to use their own assistive devices, support people or service animals in our offices. If there’s a safety issue or other concern, we’ll work with the individual to provide an alternative solution.

Temporary Disruptions

Should a temporary disruption prevent individuals with disabilities from accessing our offices or our services, we’ll provide updates on our website or by posting notices on our premises.

Your Feedback is Important

You can help us make sure that we’re living up to the standards of our accessibility policy by providing us with your feedback. We are happy to provide accessible formats and communication support upon request. Please contact our Human Resources department at 416.350.4400 or email us at [email protected].

You can also reach us by regular mail at:

Northbridge Place
Human Resources Department
105 Adelaide St. W.
Toronto ON
M5H 1P9

Alternatively, you may contact us by any of the means noted above to request a copy of this policy in a format that takes into account any disability you may have.

Click here to download a PDF of our accessibility policy.

Any complaints with respect to this policy or Northbridge’s execution of this policy may be sent to Northbridge’s Complaints Liaison Officer/Ombudsman. The Complaints Liaison Officer/Ombudsman’s contact details and the process for the handling of such complaints may be found in our Complaints Handling Protocol. Click here for our Complaints Handling protocol.

Northbridge Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Northbridge”) are committed to providing an open and accessible work environment for all clients, brokers, employees and the general public. In the act of providing its services, Northbridge will make reasonable effort to remove any barriers to accessibility under the Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act by ensuring its policies, practices and procedures, whether on or outside Northbridge controlled premises, are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity.

This Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (“Plan”) outlines Northbridge’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under the Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

The Integrated Accessibility Standards-Multi-Year Plan will be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that our organization meets the requirements.

Part I – General Requirements

Establishment of Accessibility Policies

Northbridge’s Integrated Accessibility Standards Policy (“Policy”) describing how Northbridge achieves or will achieve accessibility, is posted on Northbridge’s website. The Policy is available in an accessible format upon request.

Accessibility Plans

A multi-year plan outlines Northbridge’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet the requirements under the Accessibility Act and Regulations. The Accessibility Plan is available in an accessible format upon request. The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed every 5 years.

Training

A training policy and program on the regulation and Human Rights code was developed. All affected employees, volunteers and other persons specified in the Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS) will receive training on the requirement of the accessibility standards. Records of the training will be retained by Northbridge.

Part II – Information and Communications Standards

Feedback, Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

Northbridge will continue to ensure that its process for receiving and responding to feedback is accessible to persons with disabilities. Northbridge will also, in a timely manner, provide or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats and communications supports to individuals with disabilities, upon request. In doing so, Northbridge will take into account, through consultation with the individual, the individual’s accessibility needs and the suitability of the format or communication support to his or her disability.

Accessible Websites and Web Content

Any new Northbridge internet websites and web content is conformed to the WCAG 2.0 standards presently required under the IAS. All of Northbridge’s internet websites and web content (other than for applicable exceptions) will conform to the WCAG 2.0 standards.

Part III – Employment Standards

Recruitment – General

Northbridge has identified the forums (both internal and external) on which Northbridge recruitment opportunities are posted. Notification of availability of accommodation for persons with disabilities will be provided in relation to such postings.

Recruitment, Assessment or Selection Process

Northbridge accommodates applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process. Northbridge will notify job applicants, when individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, that accommodations in relation to the materials or processes to be used are available upon request. If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, Northbridge will consult with the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provision of, a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to his or her disability.

Notice to Successful Applicants

When making offers of employment, Northbridge will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.

Informing Employees of Supports

Northbridge will continue to inform its employees of its policies, and of any change to its policies, which are used to support employees with disabilities, including policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account accessibility needs. This information will be provided to new employees as soon as is practicable after commencing employment.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees

Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Northbridge will consult with the employee in order to provide, or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed to perform the employee’s job and for information that is generally available to other employees. Northbridge will also consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Workplace Emergency Response Information

Northbridge will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to disabled employees (and to persons designated by Northbridge to provide emergency assistance to such employees, where required), as necessary and when made aware of such necessity for accommodation. The individualized workplace emergency response information will be reviewed as required by the IAS.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

Northbridge has developed and implemented an accommodation policy, which includes elements required by the IAS, and for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities.

Return to Work Process

Northbridge’s short-term disability policy has been amended accordingly to include sections relating to the provision of employees with disabilities returning to work.

Performance Management

Northbridge will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, in its performance management of such individuals.

Career Development and Advancement

Northbridge will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when providing career development and advancement to such individuals.

Redeployment

Northbridge will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when re-deploying such individuals.

Part IV – Built Standards

Exterior Paths of Travel, Service Counters and Waiting Areas

Currently this Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) does not apply to our core business or strategic direction; however, Northbridge will ensure that, from January 1, 2017, any exterior paths of travel that it constructs or redevelops, any newly constructed service counters or waiting areas and any redeveloped waiting areas meet the built requirements as contemplated in the IAS. Northbridge will ensure that contractors performing such construction or redevelopment adhere to these requirements.

Maintenance of Accessible Elements

Northbridge will, from January 1, 2017, conduct preventative and emergency maintenance of the accessible parts of the above-mentioned exterior paths of travel, service counters and waiting areas and will also remediate temporary disruptions where the accessible parts of the above-mentioned exterior paths of travel, service counters and waiting areas are not in working order, as contemplated in the IAS. Northbridge will ensure that contractors performing such maintenance and remediation adhere to these requirements.

The Northbridge group of companies is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy applies to member company, Vertis Insurance Solutions Ltd. In this Privacy Policy, the words “you” and “your” mean our Advisors (Advisors and Commercial Insurance Specialists), and the words “we”, “us” and “our” mean Vertis Insurance Solutions Ltd.

Our Commitment to our Advisors, our Insurance Suppliers and Their Clients

In order to provide Advisors and their clients with access to insurance products and services, we collect certain personal information about both, generally on behalf of our insurance providers. Our commitment goes beyond meeting legal requirements for protecting personal information. The trust and confidence that our Advisors and insurers hold in us, including our ability to protect the confidentiality of personal information and the privacy of the individuals who provide it, are critical to our success as a business. This Policy applies to our employees and any third party service providers or representatives with which we contract.

Why We Collect, Use and Retain Personal Information

We act as an intermediary between insurance Advisors and the insurance companies with which they do business, contracted by insurers to operate on their behalf to facilitate sales and support of life and health insurance products providing administrative and marketing services pursuant to written contracts. Insurers’ privacy policies sometimes identify us as “service providers.” Insurers require us to obtain, use and retain certain essential personal information about Advisors in order to determine their initial and ongoing suitability to act as an Advisor, to obtain contracts for them to distribute products and in order to compensate them. This information includes financial and work history as well as disciplinary, legal and regulatory information.

We obtain client information from Advisors in order to provide services and access to insurers’ products. Our policies must meet the standards insurers establish. The personal information Advisors collect from clients and provide to us for submission to insurers is essential information that insurers use to provide services and products that clients have requested. This information is used to determine insurance risk, assess eligibility for products, to administer those products once purchased and to fulfill certain regulatory requirements. This can include health information, financial information and history and information about avocations. We retain some of this information in order to be able to administer business, to provide ongoing service to Advisors and insurers and when we are required to do so by law.

We may use anonymous data to manage our business, identify products and services that will benefit Advisors and their clients and to prepare reports about our business.

Limiting Collection

We collect only the information we need to fulfill our contracts with Advisors and insurers and to meet our regulatory obligations. We will use only fair and lawful means to collect this information.

How We Collect Clients’ Information

Wherever possible, we collect clients’ information directly from the Advisor as their authorized representative. Information may be obtained through government agencies, other insurers and financial institutions. We may collect any required health information about clients from the Advisor or directly from the client. Third party service providers and other authorized representatives may also collect this information on our behalf. We will collect the Advisor’s personal information directly from the Advisor, other insurers and insurance organizations, government agencies and existing and past employers.

Consent

We will collect information only with consent, whether express or implied. The client consent that insurers receive often includes consent to provide personal information to us, which allows us to fulfill our contractual obligations to the insurer. We also operate under the client consent that Advisors receive in order to support their sales activities. We may rely on implied client consent when an Advisor receives a client’s consent to collect personal information in connection with a purchase or policy change and when we process client information requested by an insurer and collected by an Advisor. We receive express Advisor consent to obtain their personal information in the course of screening and contracting.

When an Advisor or client requests or uses any of the products or services we make available, we will transfer whatever information is necessary by implied consent. If we receive notice from an insurer that an Advisor or client has withdrawn consent for the continued use and retention of personal information, we will take whatever steps are necessary to adhere to the Act. This may require termination of our relationship with the Advisor. We will act on whatever instructions we receive from the insurer regarding the client’s status.

Limits on Use and Disclosure

We will use and disclose personal information to perform our contractual duties, to provide you with information, and when we are required to do so by law. We may disclose this personal information to our employees or service providers so that they can perform their duties, to insurers and any person or organization to which consent has been given, and where authorized by law. Where personal information is provided to service providers, we require them to protect that information consistent with our policies and practices.

We may also use personal information to offer products and services that we believe will interest Advisors or clients, but we will never give or sell personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Limits on Retention of Information

We will retain personal information in our records only for as long as it is needed for the purposes identified, or as legally required or permitted.

Accuracy of Information

It is the Advisor’s responsibility to keep the personal information about we obtain about the Advisor and client as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Both the insurer and the Advisor are responsible for providing us with notices of changes that they receive directly. An individual may challenge the completeness and accuracy of his/her personal information that we hold. We will make any necessary corrections to information about an Advisor that is shown to be incomplete or inaccurate and we will notify any third parties, including insurers, if we agree to make such corrections.

Clients may gain access to their personal information we hold by making an access request to the Advisor and/or insurer on whose behalf we hold the information. In situations where a client seeks corrections to information we hold, we will act on the instructions of the insurer(s) whose products are held and/or the Advisor who is their authorized representative, depending on the corrections required. Any disagreement or discrepancy regarding accuracy will be documented.

Protecting Personal Information

We will protect personal information from unauthorized access or use by ensuring that safeguards are in place, including physical security measures for our locations, operational policies, procedures and access protocols and technological measures for our computer systems. We will use safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to personal information during the destruction process.

Contacting Us

If you have a question, complaint, or wish to provide feedback regarding our Privacy Policy or procedures, please contact our Chief Privacy Officer, Paul Krpan:

Paul Krpan
Chief Privacy Officer
Northbridge Financial Corporation
105 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 1P9

Toll Free: 1.800.268.9680 Selection 5
Phone: 416.350.4400
Fax: 416.350.4417
Email: [email protected]

If we do not resolve your questions or complaint to your satisfaction, you may address your concerns to:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1H3

Toll Free: 1.800.282.1376
Phone: 819.994.5444
Fax: 819.994.5424
TTY: 819.994.6591
Website: www.priv.gc.ca

Northbridge uses cookies with this website. A cookie is a small text file sent to your browser by a website you visit. Cookies can contain information about your visit, including pages visited. Please see our website terms and conditions for more information about how Northbridge uses cookies.

This Privacy Policy may be amended from time to time. Please check our website for any amendments and for the current version of this Privacy Policy.

Insurance fraud costs everyone. The resulting increase in the cost of insurance premiums is everyone’s concern. If you are aware of someone making false insurance claims, or someone attempting to make a few extra dollars by padding a legitimate claim, take the time to report the issue here. All tips are anonymous unless you would like to provide your name and contact information to discuss the issue in further detail. All personal information is collected in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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What would you like us to know?

Use of this website is subject to the following terms and conditions. Your use of the website constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, do not access this website.

Disclaimer

Northbridge Financial Corporation and its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, employees or agents, which includes Vertis Insurance Solutions Ltd. (“Northbridge”) provide this website for informational purposes only. The content of this website has been compiled in good faith by Northbridge. However, all information is provided “as is” without any warranties of any kind and Northbridge assumes no responsibility to you or any third party for the consequences of any errors or omissions. This website could contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. Any user who accesses this website does so solely at his or her own risk. The content provided in this website may be changed at any time without notice. Changes may be made to these terms and conditions at any time without notice by updating this posting. You agree to review these terms and conditions regularly and your continued use or access of the website will mean that you agree to any changes.

Cookies

Northbridge uses cookies with this website. A cookie is a small text file sent to your browser by a website you visit. Cookies can contain information about your visit, including pages visited.

Northbridge uses cookies to recognize you when you return to our website, to personalize content, to gather analytics and information about your use of our website, to enable the functionality of certain features of our website, to maintain, monitor, protect and improve the website and to integrate third-party services into our website.

We, our service providers and third-party ad services may also use cookies or similar technology to collect information about your browsing activities over time and across different websites and to show our ads on sites across the internet. Northbridge has retained the services of specialized service providers to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our website and to determine the behaviour of visitors on our website. To this end, Northbridge uses cookies provided by service providers. These service providers and third-party ad services may combine the information we share with them about your use of our site with information that you provide to them or that they collect from your use of other sites. Third-party ad servers use cookies to display ads to you based on your internet history.

You may change your web browser settings to disable cookies. The process for how to do this will depend on the type of browser and device you are using.

Limitation of Liability

In no event will Northbridge be liable for any damages, including without limitation, direct, indirect, special, incidental, moral or consequential damages, loss of profits, opportunities or information or for expenses arising in connection with this website, with any software available on this website, with any hyperlinked website or for use thereof or inability to use by interruption, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus or line or system failure, even if Northbridge is advised of the possibility of such damages, losses or expenses.

No Advice

This website is not intended to provide specific insurance or other advice for any individual or business entity and should not be relied on for such advice.

Information About Products and Services

The descriptions of the various products and services contained in this website are provided solely for general informational purposes. No offer is made or intended to be made on this website. The information and descriptions contained in this website are not intended to be complete descriptions of all terms, conditions and exclusions applicable to the products and services. In all cases, products and services are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the actual policy.

Products and services mentioned in this website are available only in Canada, in jurisdictions where they may be legally offered. Not all products and services are necessarily available throughout Canada.

Privacy

Northbridge is committed to protecting the personal information of its clients. For more information, please read our “Privacy Policy”.

Third-Party Links

Northbridge provides links to third-party websites only as a convenience and does not control such websites and is therefore not responsible for the content of any such website. The inclusion of any link by Northbridge does not imply endorsement, investigation or verification by Northbridge of the linked website or the material contained therein. Your access and use of any third-party websites, including the information, material, products and services contained therein are solely at your own risk.

Copyright

All materials published, downloaded or otherwise hosted on this website, including, but not limited to, software, articles, text, information, reports, newsletters, data, web pages, HTML, scripts, code, Java, images, and all other content including the manner in which they appear or are displayed or presented (the “Content”) are protected by copyright laws, and/or other intellectual property laws including, without limitation, trademark laws and are owned by Northbridge, its affiliates, its licensors or the party credited as the provider of the Content. In addition, this website as a whole is protected by copyright law as a collective work and/or compilation, pursuant to Canadian copyright laws, international conventions and other copyright laws. You must abide by all copyright notices and restrictions contained in any Content.

Trademarks

Certain product names, company names, words, titles, phrases, logos, designs, graphics and icons displayed on this website constitute trademarks or tradenames, registered or unregistered, of Northbridge, its affiliates or third parties. All third party trademarks or tradenames are used under license from their owner and will remain the sole and exclusive property of their owners. For more information on third party trademarks or tradenames please see “Third Party Trademarks.”

In addition to the forgoing, the following trademarks are marks of Northbridge Financial Corporation, used under license by Vertis Insurance Solutions Ltd.

Word Trademarks

  • Vertis
  • Vertis Insurance
  • Vertis Assurance

Design Trademarks

Except for the above described licenses or permissions, the display of trademarks and tradenames on this website does not imply that a license of any kind has been granted to anyone else, whether by estoppel, implication or otherwise. Website users are not permitted to use these marks or names without express consent the owner. Any unauthorized use, downloading, re-transmission, or other copying or modification of trademarks, tradenames or the content displayed on this website is strictly prohibited and may be a violation of federal, provincial or other law that may apply to trademarks and/or copyrights and give rise to legal action. Northbridge will take appropriate legal action to enforce its rights, as Northbridge determines to be necessary or advisable in its sole and absolute discretion.

Restrictions on Use

You agree that you will not: (i) develop, support, or use software, devices, scripts, robots, scrapers, crawlers, plugins, add-ons, harvesters, spiders or any other automated device, technology, manual work, means or processes to scrape or access or use the website for any purpose other than web indexing; (ii) use the website for any unlawful, unauthorized, fraudulent, or malicious purpose; (iii) use the website in a way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any server or the network(s) connected to any server; (iv) use the website in any way that could interfere with any other party’s use and enjoyment of the website; or (v) use the website for any use other than the purpose for which it was intended.

Jurisdiction

This website is controlled by Northbridge from its offices within the Province of Ontario, Canada. The website will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws. All disputes, controversies or claims arising out of or in connection with the website shall be submitted to and be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario. You submit and attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario to finally adjudicate or determine any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the website.

BMO Insurance

“BMO” and the “m-bar roundel symbol” are registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal, used under license.

Canada Life

Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company.

Canada Protection Plan

Canada Protection Plan and the logo are trademarks of Canada Protection Plan Inc.

Empire Life

Empire Life and logo are registered trademarks of The Empire Life Insurance Company.

Equitable

Equitable is a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.

Foresters Financial

Foresters Financial is a trademark of The Independent Order of Foresters (a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, ON, Canada M3C 1T9) and its subsidiaries.

Manulife

Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, and Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.

Medavie Blue Cross

Medavie Blue Cross and the logo are trade-marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.

RBC Insurance

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, trademarks owned by Royal Bank include the following: LION & GLOBE Design, ROYAL, ROYAL BANK, RBC, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, and other trademarks including those comprised of “RBC” or “ROYAL”. ROYAL BANK and RBC are registered trademarks of Royal Bank. Used under licence. RBC Insurance is the brand name for the insurance operating entities, comprising RBC Insurance Agency Ltd., RBC Life Insurance Company, RBC Insurance Company of Canada, RBC Insurance Services Inc., RBC (Barbados) Services Company Ltd. and Royal Bank of Canada Insurance Company Ltd.

Sun Life

Sun Life and the logo symbol are registered trademarks of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.

Wawanesa Life

Wawanesa Life and the tree logo are registered trade-marks of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company and used under license by The Wawanesa Life Insurance Company.

Xodus Travel Services

Xodus Travel Services and its logo are trademarks of Xodus Travel Services Inc.