Insurance Companies Act (S.C. 1991, c. 47)

Marginal note:Restriction on residential mortgages

• 469. (1) A company shall not make a loan in Canada on the security of residential property in Canada for the purpose of purchasing, renovating or improving that property, or refinance such a loan, if the amount of the loan, together with the amount then outstanding of any mortgage having an equal or prior claim against the property, would exceed 80 per cent of the value of the property at the time of the loan.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of

  • (a) a loan made or guaranteed under the National Housing Act or any other Act of Parliament by or pursuant to which a different limit on the value of property on the security of which the company may make a loan is established;

  • (b) a loan if repayment of the amount of the loan that exceeds the maximum amount set out in subsection (1) is guaranteed or insured by a government agency or a private insurer approved by the Superintendent;

  • (c) the acquisition by the company from an entity of securities issued or guaranteed by the entity that are secured on any residential property, whether in favour of a trustee or otherwise, or the making of a loan by the company to the entity against the issue of such securities; or

  • (d) a loan secured by a mortgage where

    • (i) the mortgage is taken back by the company on a property disposed of by the company, including where the disposition is by way of a realization of a security interest, and

    • (ii) the mortgage secures payment of an amount payable to the company for the property.

Marginal note:Restriction on charges to borrowers

• 469.1 (1) Subject to any regulations made under subsection (2), a company that has obtained insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made in Canada on the security of residential property shall not charge a borrower an amount for the insurance or guarantee that exceeds the actual cost to the company of the insurance or guarantee.

• Marginal note:Regulations

  (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations

  • (a) respecting the determination of the actual cost to a company for the purposes of subsection (1);

  • (b) respecting the circumstances in which a company is exempt from the application of subsection (1);

  • (c) respecting, in relation to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by a company in Canada on the security of residential property,

    • (i) the arrangements into which the company, its representatives and its employees may or may not enter, and

    • (ii) the payments or benefits that the company, its representatives and its employees may or may not accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates; and

  • (d) respecting any other matters necessary to carry out the purposes of subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Regulations — disclosure

  (3) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the disclosure by a company of information relating to insurance or a guarantee against default on a loan made by the company in Canada on the security of residential property, including regulations respecting

  • (a) the information that must be disclosed, including information relating to

    • (i) the person who benefits from the insurance or guarantee,

    • (ii) the arrangements between the company, its representatives or its employees and the insurer or the insurer’s affiliates, and

    • (iii) the payments and benefits that the company, its representatives and its employees accept from an insurer or the insurer’s affiliates;

  • (b) the time and place at which, the form and manner in which and the persons to whom information is to be disclosed; and

  • (c) the circumstances under which a company is not required to disclose information.