Commercial General Liability Insurance in Ontario: Call us at 416-528-8305

February 1, 2023

Why Is Commercial General Liability Insurance in Ontario important?

As a business owner, we know you put your customers first and are always thinking about delivering a quality good or service while keeping safety top of mind. Unfortunately, despite our best intentions, accidents large and small happen every day. In today’s litigious society, even a single liability claim can put your small business… out of business. Business owners can protect themselves from costly liability claims with the right type of liability insurance.

What Is Commercial General Liability Insurance in Ontario?

Commercial general liability insurance (sometimes called CGL) is defined very simply in Canada. It is a liability policy designed to protect you and your business from liability claims brought on by 3rd parties alleging bodily injury or property damage caused by your business activities or employees. Your CGL insurance is your first line of defense when claims arise – even if they are without merit. Because the insurance company is responsible for paying those claims, they also have a duty to defend you against a lawsuit at their own cost.

Commercial General Liability in Ontario Coverages

Most CGL policies consist of 4 sections outlined on the declaration page alongside important terms and conditions like deductibles, aggregate limits, etc.

Section A – Bodily Injury and Property Damage

This is probably the most important part of your Commercial General Liability coverage as it protects your business in the event your operations, products/services or employees cause injury or property damage to a 3rd party (ie. a customer). This section will work to defend you against claims and compensate the customer if you are ultimately found at-fault for the damage.

That said, there are some important exclusions to be aware of:

Expected or intended injury (ie. assault)
Contractual liability
Employer’s liability for injured employees
Automobile-related liability

Section B – Personal and Advertising Liability

If you or your employees damage the reputation or character of a 3rd party (ie. by writing something disparaging about a competitor online) this is the section that steps in to cover you. Some examples of coverage areas include:

Copyright infringement
False arrest (important for retail businesses)
Slander/Libel
Wrongful eviction or entry

Section C – Medical Expenses

Although accidents happen often, the resulting injuries are usually minor. This coverage will pay their medical expenses regardless of fault to help protect your business reputation and mitigate the possibility of a future lawsuit.

Section D – Tenant’s Legal Liability

Many CGL policies also include a Tenants Legal Liability component to insure against accidental damage to a rented premises. This coverage is often required by landlords.

What is the cost of Commercial General Liability Insurance in Ontario?

As a general liability policy, they are not industry specific but when you complete your application form, the type of business operations you undertake and the jurisdictions you operate in will affect your premiums. If your business operations involve higher risk activities (ie. skydiving), you can expect to pay more. Similarly, if you have more revenues or do business in litigious jurisdictions like the United States, then you might also have to pay more for insurance as well.

But rather than looking at insurance as a cost centre, it is important to look at it as a strategic asset. If you want to do business with large businesses like Walmart or even Amazon, they will require that you carry adequate liability insurance. By carrying adequate insurance, you are showing these people that you are a serious player and stand behind your goods and services.

Another way to frame the conversation around Commercial General Liability insurance in Ontario is to look at it as a way to protect your business reputation. Like it or not, accidents and frivolous lawsuits happen. When they do, you want to make sure you have the financial resources available to either compensate your valued customers or defend your reputation in the court of law. After all, a reputation can take a lifetime to build but only a split second to destroy.

Commercial General Liability in Ontario and the effects of COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, insurers have been forced to revise their coverages to ensure financial stability. Lately, we have been seeing a new “Communicable Disease Exclusion” introduced into new and renewing CGL policies. Sometimes, this type of exclusion can also be introduced as a “Biological or Chemical Material Exclusion” or “Microorganism Exclusion”.

Policy wordings and names vary from insurer to insurer but it’s safe to say that these exclusions will affect your liability coverage for any COVID-19-related losses.