Ontario. Office of the Superintendent of Insurance

• Office of the Superintendent of Insurance

• Ontario. Office of the Executive Director of the Financial Insitutions Division

The position of Superintendent of Insurance was established by legislation in 1912, replacing the former Inspector of Insurance Companies. This same legislation also created the Ontario Department of Insurance, of which the Superintendent was director.

While the Superintendent of Insurance was responsible for examining and licensing commercial insurance companies in the province, this individual also tended to hold the position of "Registrar of Friendly Societies", which was responsible for issuing licenses to mutual insurance companies and friendly societies. This position was eliminated, however, in 1924 and from that time on, only one register was maintained for both commercial insurance companies and mutual insurance companies and friendly societies.

The Superintendent of Insurance also tended to hold the position of "Registrar of Loan and Trust Corporations". This office was discontinued in 1976.

In 1964, the Insurance Act was amended and the sections which provided for the Department of Insurance were repealed. The functions of the Department, however, were continued by the Superintendent of Insurance and his office, and placed within the Public Protection Division of the Ontario Department of the Attorney General. At this time, the Department of Insurance was essentially reduced to the status of a branch, and given the title "Office of the Superintendent of Insurance".

With the creation of the Ontario Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs in 1966, the "Office of the Superintendent of Insurance" was removed from the Department of the Attorney General and placed within the new Department. This Department, however, ceased to exist in 1972 and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance was moved to the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. With this change, the Office of the Superintendent acquired the status of a division and was given responsibility over the Cemeteries Branch, the Credit Unions Branch and the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund.

In 1976 the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations created the Financial Institutions Division, which assumed the functions of the "Office of the Superintendent of Insurance" as well as several other bodies. The former Superintendent of Insurance became the Executive Director of the new Division, but the "Office of the Superintendent of Insurance", as a division of the Ministry, ceased to exist.

Use of the term Executive Director to denote the head of the Division only lasted until 1983, when the title of Superintendent of Insurance was reinstated.

In 1986, the Financial Institutions Division was elevated to Ministry status becoming the Ministry of Financial Institutions. With this change, a new Insurance Division was established within the Ministry over which the Superintendent of Insurance was responsible. This Division was replaced with the Ontario Insurance Commission in 1990. The position of Superintendent of Insurance was continued, and along with a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, was given responsibility over the administration and operation of the new Commission.

The Superintendent of Insurance is responsible for issuing licenses to insurance companies and regulating the business of insurance in Ontario. The Superintendent monitors insurer insolvency as well as business practices; answers inquiries concerning insurance plans and premiums; advises policy holders involved in claims disputes; and investigates alleged wrongdoings by insurance agents, brokers, salesmen and adjusters.

The Ontario Insurance Act, Statutes of Ontario 1912, Chap. 33

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

MacTaggart, Hazel. Publications of the Government of Ontario, 1901-1955 (1964)

Mactaggart, Hazel. Publications of the Government of Ontario, 1956-1971 (1975)

KWIC Indexes, 1975-1995

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories, 1971-1996

reports to Ontario Insurance Commission until 1998, then OIC merged into Financial Services Commission

Archivist(s):
R. Anger