Commercial general liability (CGL)
Standard ask from landlords and customers; usually $2M–$5M per occurrence
05 · Core coverages
What insurance does a business need in Canada?
Six coverages, and why each one matters here.
Short answer
Most expanding companies need CGL, property and business interruption, cyber and privacy, D&O, E&O and employee benefits, each shaped by Canadian rules.
Property and business interruption
Leased premises, equipment, inventory; lenders and leases require it
Cyber and privacy liability
Mandatory breach reporting under PIPEDA, Alberta PIPA and Quebec’s Law 25; Quebec also requires a register of all incidents
Directors’ & officers’ (D&O)
Canadian directors carry personal statutory liabilities, such as unpaid wages and source deductions
Errors & omissions (E&O)
Required for many professional and tech services contracts
Employee benefits
Group health and dental fill gaps in public health plans; premium tax applies everywhere, and Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba add sales tax on some benefit premiums
Questions, answered
What insurance does a business need in Canada?
Core coverages are commercial general liability (CGL), property and business interruption, cyber and privacy liability, directors' and officers' (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), and employee benefits.
How much CGL do Canadian landlords and customers ask for?
CGL is a standard ask from landlords and customers, usually $2M–$5M per occurrence.