Consensual Agreement and Undertaking Between The Complaints and Investigation Committee of The Life Insurance Council of Saskatchewan (the Committee) and
Veracity Financial Inc.
The Committee is authorized under Bylaw 7, Section 5, subsection 3, subparagraph (b), to enter into consensual resolutions of complaints.
Bylaw 5, Section 1, subsection 1 reads: The administrator shall, in addition to the requirements for the contents of a register required by the Act and the regulations, record on the register the existence and results of all disciplinary decisions or orders, court orders, alternative dispute resolution agreements, undertakings and mediation agreements involving a licensee or a person to whom the Life Insurance Council of Saskatchewan (Council) has the authority to issue a licence. Disciplinary actions as described above are reported on the Insurance Councils of Saskatchewan website and the Canadian Insurance Regulators Disciplinary Actions (CIRDA) database.
Veracity Financial Inc. (Veracity) acknowledges and agrees that: 1. It violated Council Bylaws when: A. Contrary to Bylaw 8, Section 2 (g) a licencee may be guilty of misconduct if the licencee: violates any provision of the Act, the regulations or the bylaws;
i. When contrary to Schedule A, Part II, Section 6, subsection (1) it failed to maintain a valid policy of errors and omissions insurance (E&O);
a) When on September 1, 2014 it allowed its E&O insurance to lapse while the licence remained active,
Consensual Agreement and Undertaking Page 2 b) E&O was not re-established until August 6, 2015, c) Veracity was without E&O coverage for 339 days; and ii. When contrary to Bylaw 2, Section 1, subsection (4)(d) it failed to immediately notify Council of cancellation or non-renewal of its E&O.
2. Veracity s rights to appear before a Discipline Committee of Council have been explained to it and it fully understands it s rights and/or obligations under Council Bylaw 10;
3. Veracity waives its rights to appear before a Discipline Committee and undertakes not to exercise any appeal rights it may have under Council Bylaw 10, Section 3 or The Saskatchewan Insurance Act, (the Act) as it relates to matters set out in this Consensual Agreement and Undertaking (Agreement).
4. This Agreement does not preclude Council from pursuing any other investigation against Veracity for activities not identified in this Agreement that may be in violation of Council Bylaws or the Act.
5. Veracity has been advised by the Committee that it is in its interests to obtain independent legal advice before entering into this Agreement.
a. Veracity has obtained such independent legal advice and is satisfied with the same, prior to executing this Agreement, or
b. Veracity has willingly chosen not to obtain such advice prior to executing this Agreement.
6. Veracity hereby affirms that it has read and understood the terms of this Agreement, and is signing it voluntarily and of its own free will.
Veracity, having waived its rights, undertakes to: 1. Pay a fine in the amount of $1,063.00; and 2. Reimburse Council s investigation costs in the amount of $330.00. 3. Veracity will pay all fines and investigative costs within 30 days of receipt of this Agreement.
4. Veracity will ensure E&O insurance is in place while Veracity continues to hold an insurance licence.
Consensual Agreement and Undertaking Page 3 The Committee s Agreement: 1. The Committee agrees to accept from Veracity the payment of $1,393.00 as full and final resolution of its violation of Council s Bylaws as outlined in this Agreement; and
2. The Committee further agrees to take no further action against Veracity for the acknowledged violations of Council s Bylaws that are set out in this Agreement.
Dated at Lloydminster, in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 12th day of January, 2016. Originally Signed by Travis Bagnall for Veracity Financial Inc.
Dated at Saskatoon, in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 21st day of January, 2016. Originally Signed by Ian Colborne, Chair, Complaints and Investigation Committee Life Insurance Council of Saskatchewan