On September 1, 2010, the Ontario Government implemented a major overhaul to automobile insurance in the Province. These changes provide consumers with more choice and flexibility to purchase coverage that best meets their protection needs and budgets.

You now have choices to customize your medical and rehabilitation benefits, certain deductibles and income replacement coverage. The following chart summarizes these changes.

The goal of these changes is to achieve rate stabilization by keeping the costs incurred by insurers in check with emphasis placed on Accident Benefits coverage. Without these reforms, major rate increases would be required.

If you are buying a new policy after September 1, 2010, you will receive the new Standard Auto Insurance Policy and have the option to increase your benefits as described to the left.

If your vehicle is already insured, you don't have to do anything until your next policy renewal date.

When your policy comes due for renewal, the new Standard Auto Insurance Policy will apply.

In the meantime, your insurance company will automatically include the following limits/coverages:

• $100,000 limit for non-catastrophic injuries and $1,000,000 limit for catastrophic injuries for Medical and Rehabilitation expenses
• $72,000 limit for non-catastrophic injuries and $1,000,000 limit for catastrophic injuries for Attendant Care expenses
• Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Expenses up to $100 per week for all injuries
• Caregiver Expenses up to $250 per week for your first dependant plus $50 per week for each additional dependant for all injuries

If you prefer to move to the new Standard Auto Insurance Policy before your next renewal date, contact us. We'll explain your options and help you make an informed choice.

Whether you're adding a new room or two, replacing an out-dated kitchen or re-shingling the roof, home improvements can be challenging. While some homeowners may have the time and skills to do the work themselves, most people will save time and money by hiring a professional. Finding the right contractor is very important. Choose wrongly, and your project can quickly turn into a nightmare of unmet schedules, cost over-runs, shabby workmanship and endless arguments.

Ask for recommendations from family, friends, co-workers and neighbours. Building supply companies, hardware stores and local builder/renovator associations are also excellent options. Once you've got a list, contact your local office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if any complaints have been lodged against the firms you name. Then, call and check the references. Contractors with nothing to hide will not be offended with these inquiries.

Protect your home — and yourself — by dealing with a reputable firm that operates in the open market, legally and responsibly. Professional contractors and sub-contractors follow stringent guidelines to protect themselves and those they do business with. Professionals have all the necessary insurance. Their policies are up-to-date and they can provide you with a certificate of insurance. Your peace of mind is worth it.

Although you may save money in the short term, uninsured contractors expose you to significant financial risk in the event of an injury or damage to your property. You could be liable if an employee of the contractor is hurt while working on your property or if they damage your home or your neighbour's property.

Before starting any renovation on your home, be sure to call us, your insurance professionals. You want to make sure your investment in your home is adequately insured under your policy from the get go, as renovations increase the value of your home, and materials values can quickly add up. Calling us first will ensure you have adequate coverage under your policy to protect the investment you're making in your home.

So, check your coverage with us. Then, once you've checked references, confirmed insurance and legal credentials, agreed on a price, schedules and materials, pick the contractor that you like and feel you can communicate with. It's a long process and you'll be glad you did.

Many people mistakenly believe the amount they paid for their home is the same as its replacement cost. Unfortunately this is not always true.

Depending on where you live, the cost to rebuild a total loss home can be significantly more than its market value.

Some of the factors that drive up rebuilding/reconstruction costs include:

Urgency - Property losses are not planned like a new construction project. When they do occur, there is a need to rebuild as soon as possible. This means the cost of labour, materials and other services required are often significantly higher.

Demolition and Debris Removal - Major losses, require the removal of partially damaged property and debris. Costs increase if there are environmental issues such as soil contamination.

Current Building Codes - New and more demanding building codes may need to be met when rebuilding or restoring a damaged home.

Worksite Access and Collateral Damage
At reconstruction sites there is typically less room because of debris, landscaping, fences and other buildings in the vicinity. This causes more work and material storage to be done further away from the site, thus extending the project time and cost. In some cases, physical access requirements result in collateral damage to existing property on and beside the insured's property.

It's easy to see how the cost to rebuild your home could be much more than you paid for it.

Don't get caught in a situation where your loss exceeds your coverage limits. We can provide you with advice to help you determine the correct amount of insurance you need on your property. And, we'll recommend coverages like Guaranteed Replacement Cost coverage.

It's wise to re-evaluate your home's replacement cost every 5 years to reflect changes in the cost of construction, including building materials and labour. And, if you've made any recent renovations, upgrades or alterations to your home, we can help you establish a new replacement cost value.

If you have any doubts, please contact us.

We'll help you insure your home to its proper value.

Choice is important to all consumers. We know you have many options when it comes to buying insurance. However, if you want independent, unbiased, uninfluenced, personalized advice, there is only one choice. And that choice is an independent insurance broker.

Independent insurance brokers work for you:
- not for a call centre, an insurance company or a bank. As your independent insurance broker, we are your consultant and advocate.
- and we're with you every step of the way. As your life and insurance needs change, whether it's marriage, a new home, young drivers or the toys that come with retirement, we can tailor an insurance product that fits you perfectly.

Don't settle for one-size fits all solutions. By properly assessing your insurance needs, we can help you purchase customized insurance products that match your needs. Because we represent many insurers, we search the marketplace for the best insurance coverage for you. Unlike direct agents who can only sell the product of the Insurer or bank they work for, we offer more choices, unbiased advice and insurance that fits. This is our advantage for you.

And remember, when you deal with an independent insurance broker, you get a licensed and highly trained insurance professional working for you. From the application process to the never anticipated claim, we're here to guide you, offer advice and advocate on your behalf. You're never alone and never just a number. We're insurance experts and we're on your side.

It's no wonder we say...
Your Best Insurance, is an Insurance Broker.

Let's say you own a restaurant and suffer a fire loss. You are forced to close for two months to make repairs and then you find it takes another two months before your business returns to its normal level. How can you protect your property and your business?

In this situation, your Property policy pays to repair the building and replace your contents. Your business losses are covered depending on the type of Business Interruption Insurance you've chosen.

If you have Gross Profits Insurance, your loss of income is paid while closed for repairs and while you rebuild your business to its original level up to the limit of coverage. Gross Earnings Insurance only covers the income lost during the time required to repair the premises.

If you own rental income property, you also have two choices for Business Interruption Insurance. Gross Rentals Insurance acts on the same basis as Gross Profit Insurance. If your apartment building suffered a fire, your Gross Rentals Insurance will pay for the loss of income during the repair period and for lost income during the time it takes to rent all of the damaged apartments up to the limit
of coverage.

Whether your business is retail, restaurant, manufacturing or rental properties, we can offer the appropriate Business Interruption Insurance to protect you from loss of income. Call us to
get started.

First, make sure you have a valid Passport or WHTI-compliant identification like an enhanced driver's license (EDL) or NEXUS card. Since June 2009, Canadians traveling to the U.S. by land or sea are required to present an approved document that shows identity and citizenship.

Be aware that you must declare any meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, and animals you have in your vehicle or are carrying, including checked baggage and carry-on luggage.

Also make sure to carry your valid Driver's Licence and proof of insurance. An up-to-date pink insurance liability slip includes important telephone numbers and proves you have insurance.

If you are considering renting a vehicle, it is a good idea to extend coverage from your own Ontario automobile policy to the rental vehicle. By adding an OPCF 27 to your auto policy, you won't have to worry about buying extra insurance when you rent a car anywhere in the United States or Canada.

Like Ontario's hands-free law, many states ban the use of cell phones while driving. The states of Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania even allow cities or regions to implement their own bans. Be safe and smart and avoid electronic distractions while behind the wheel.

It's impossible to know when, where or if you'll get into an accident, but if you do, call us for advice and we'll help guide you through the claims process.

Before you purchase Mortgage Insurance, consider a product designed to protect you and your loved ones, not your bank.

Protecting your mortgage with an individual-owned term insurance plan offers you and your loved ones better guarantees and greater choice.

Personal Insurance clearly provides better value, more choice and greater flexibility.

Depending on your age and health, Personal Insurance premiums can be up to 60% less than Mortgage Insurance.

Note: The sample 10 year term life Ontario monthly rates shown above were developed November, 2010 and assume regular, non-smoker rates that are not specific to any individual person or insurer. Please contact Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd.

We can never say it often enough, and we want you to know that we appreciate your business. Thank you! Your loyalty to our company and your faith in our service is what continues to make us the fastest growing insurance firm in Southern Ontario. In fact, we're ranked in the top 5% of insurance brokerages in Canada. We respect the confidence you've placed in us and want you to know that we will continue to work diligently on your insurance matters in the years ahead and do everything possible to continue to earn your trust and confidence.
Our mission continues to be: "To provide you with the best professional advice, quality coverages, personalized service and competitive prices available in today's marketplace."

When you have a loss and it's covered by an insurance policy, you want fast action by your insurance company and you want courteous treatment and a feeling that someone cares about your situation. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what you deserve! Think of your insurance as a promise that the best of personal service will be there when you need it most. We believe that promise is our most important obligation. That's why we demand claim service excellence from the insurance companies we do business with on your behalf. In our most recent Claims Service Survey here's what our clients said:
97.8% said our service was COURTEOUS, 97% said our service was PROMPT, 96.2% said our claims settlement met or exceeded their expectations.

"Our claim was acted on right away. Paul Restoration was at the house within an hour. We have a little girl with a disability who requires a bath every night. Within 25 hours, the plumbing was fixed. Awesome job by Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers and everyone who helped us."
Robert & Colleen Difrancesco

"Dan Lawrie Insurance is a pleasure to work with as they are always on top of our requests and requirements. They are very supportive and knowledgeable."
Susan Houston

"Everyone at Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers involved with my claim was very professional in their field of work. I would recommend Dan Lawrie Insurance for a job well done."
Dave Capretta

"I was very pleased with the way in which the matter was handled. Thank you very much Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd."
Nicholas & Diane Leblovic

"I appreciate the personal approach you use on the annual reviews in discussing our Business and Fleet insurance needs. This make me feel like a "priority client". The exercise of discussing insurance coverages provides me with a better understanding of my business and how I will operate in the future."
Peter D

"I have been working with Angela Templeton at Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers over the past month. Angela has been your representative for two of our buildings through our current property manager Gossnar & Horner. Angela has quoted on the "new" business and she has done an extra-ordinary job in presenting me with useful insight regarding what my options are. Her knowledge and advice has been invaluable to me and she has patiently talked me through the various processes - all with a positive & personable attitude.
Angela obviously has a passion for her job, her company and her industry and is excited to enlighten consumers so that they can make the best decisions possible. Her honest, transparent approach to sharing information helps create an immediate level of trust which is much appreciated. Thank you Angela and Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd."
Rita F

"I was with another Financial Advisor for over 15 years and it wasn't until the last few years that I noticed my advisor did not call me to review my portfolio with me. I found that very disturbing and when I called them for an update - they told me everything was fine with my finances. With the economy the way it was - I found that a little bit hard to believe. So I decided to get a second opinion and that is when I went to Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd. Rene Papin reviewed my financial situation and needless to say it was a good thing that he did. If things were to continue with my previous advisor, all of my savings would have been depleted within the next 4 to 5 years. I was very happy with Rene's expertise and he took care of my financial situation very professionally. I now have a strategy in place that will help my financial situation maintain growth for many more years to come. Thank you Rene and thank you Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers Ltd."
S. Manary

We thank YOU for your continued confidence . . .
                Your satisfaction means everything to us!