Insurance Companies Act

Marginal note:Removal

• 678.4 (1) The Superintendent may, by order, remove a person from office as the chief agent of a foreign company if the Superintendent is of the opinion that the person is not suitable to hold that office

  • (a) on the basis of the competence, business record, experience, conduct or character of the person; or

  • (b) because the person has contravened or, by action or negligence, has contributed to the contravention of

    • (i) this Act or the regulations made under it,

    • (ii) a direction made under section 676,

    • (iii) an order made under subsection 608(4) or 609(2),

    • (iv) a condition or limitation in respect of the order approving the insuring in Canada of risks by the foreign company, or

    • (v) a prudential agreement entered into under section 675.1 or an undertaking given by the foreign company to the Superintendent.

• Marginal note:Risk of prejudice

  (2) In forming an opinion under subsection (1), the Superintendent must consider whether the interests of the policyholders and creditors of the foreign company in respect of its insurance business in Canada have been or are likely to be prejudiced by the person’s holding office as chief agent.

• Marginal note:Representations may be made

  (3) The Superintendent must in writing notify the chief agent and the foreign company of any removal order that the Superintendent proposes to make under subsection (1) and must afford them an opportunity within 15 days after the date of the notice, or within any longer period that the Superintendent allows, to make representations to the Superintendent in relation to the matter.

• Marginal note:Suspension

  (4) If the Superintendent is of the opinion that the public interest is likely to be prejudiced by the chief agent continuing to exercise the powers or carry out the duties and functions of that office during the period for making representations, the Superintendent may make an order suspending the chief agent. The suspension may not extend beyond 10 days after the expiration of that period.

• Marginal note:Notice of order

  (5) The Superintendent shall, without delay, notify the chief agent and the foreign company of a removal order or suspension order.

• Marginal note:Consequences of removal order

  (6) The chief agent ceases to hold that office as of the date the removal order is made or any later date specified in the order.

• Marginal note:Appeal

  (7) The chief agent or the foreign company may, within 30 days after the date of receipt of notice of the removal order under subsection (5), or within any longer period that the Court allows, appeal the matter to the Federal Court.

• Marginal note:Powers of Federal Court

  (8) The Federal Court, in the case of an appeal, may dismiss the appeal or set aside the removal order.

• Marginal note:Order not stayed by appeal

  (9) A removal order is not stayed by an appeal.