Summary report - Extraordinary General Meeting
The Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on January 20 provided an opportunity to review the merger of the two organizations that led to the creation of the Chambre de l’assurance. The members of the Board of Directors were also confirmed in their roles on this occasion.
This virtual meeting, to which all members were invited, was chaired by Mr. Mario Albert, Chair of the Board of Directors. After the adoption of the proposed agenda, Mr. Albert and Ms. Chantal Lamoureux, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chambre de l’assurance, each delivered an address.
“I am able to confirm today that we have completed all the steps required by Bill 16, in line with the expected timelines,” emphasized Mr. Albert regarding the governance of the new organization. “We have been able to ensure comparable representation of directors from the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages and the Chambre de la sécurité financière on the various committees. This reflects the desire to carry out a merger as equals.”
Priority on Services
After the creation of the Chambre de l’assurance in July 2025, the Board quickly determined that its priority—and that of the entire organization during this period of change—had to be ensuring stability and continuity in the services offered to members, without compromising public protection. “Quite humbly, I believe that the objective of advancing the merger without disrupting member services has been achieved,” said Mr. Albert.
Continuity of services was also highlighted as a priority by Chantal Lamoureux: “The fall season was extremely busy, especially due to the end of the continuing education periods.” For members in life insurance, mutual funds, and scholarship plans, the period concluded with the highest compliance rate ever recorded: 94.2%. “For all members working in damage insurance, the current cycle ends soon, on March 31, 2026, and the compliance rate is climbing every day,” added Ms. Lamoureux.
Many initiatives will continue in 2026. This will include the coming into force of the recognition decision of the Chambre de l’assurance as a self-regulatory organization by the Autorité des marchés financiers. A regulatory transition for the oversight of mutual fund and scholarship plan representatives is also planned. “Our work in this regard is guided by two key principles: clarity and collaboration,” emphasized Ms. Lamoureux. The organization’s brand identity, a new website, and the development of several training programs are also on the agenda for the year.
Board Members Confirmed
Mr. Albert explained the different steps that led to the composition of the Board of Directors of the new organization, which will have a total of 15 members. “A rigorous process was deployed to ensure a high-quality Board made up of individuals with the required skills and, above all, who understand the context that led to the merger and its implementation since last July 4,” he stated. More details are available in the document emailed to all members prior to the meeting (see Liste des candidats, in French).
Nine directors were elected by acclamation, in addition to the five members of the transition committee. One of the two positions in life insurance is vacant and will be filled through an upcoming election among members of that discipline; the call for candidates will begin on February 2, 2026. The full composition of the Board was announced in a press release.
The Board is also working on creating committees that will allow for consultation of members on issues affecting the various disciplines. The goal is to draw fully on the expertise of members and potentially of external experts. It should be noted that from now on, nominations for independent director positions will be recommended by a Chambre de l’assurance nomination committee and submitted to members for approval at the General Meeting. Previously, these appointments were made by the Minister of Finance.
Both Mr. Albert and Ms. Lamoureux emphasized the importance of member involvement in the governance bodies of their self-regulatory organization to ensure its success and thanked all participants.
Several questions were asked during the event. Below are the responses to those that were not addressed live.
The questions below reflect those shared during the EGM; they have been slightly edited for clarity. If some contain opinions, these represent only the view of their author and not that of the Chambre de l’assurance.
Do we receive the PDUs at our email address, or are they automatically recorded in our CSF portal?
Answer: We are pleased to count on the attendance of as many members as possible. The EGM is a governance event and therefore does not grant PDUs.
How can it be that there is only one candidate per board seat to be filled on the Board of Directors? And why call an AGM to vote?
Answer: During the Assembly, the Chair of the Board of the Chambre de l’assurance explained the different steps that led to the election of nine directors by acclamation. This information is also included in the document sent to members before the event (Liste des candidats, in French). Some individuals from the boards of the two former organizations who could have run chose not to. Holding a Special General Meeting was required under Bill 16.
Does the organization consider it important and a priority to establish and promote towards consumers the distinction between agent vs. broker, or captive vs. independent representative?
Answer: This issue emerged in the member survey conducted last fall. The Chambre the l’assurance will certainly work to increase public awareness of the added value of each discipline and of the different ways of practicing.
Why are there two seats on the Board of Directors for directors certified in Insurance of persons?
Answer: The two seats in Insurance of persons on the Board of Directors are explained by the proportion of representatives in this discipline within the merged organization. Nearly half of the members of the new organization will hold a licence in this discipline once the transfer of representatives in mutual funds and scholarship plan has taken place.
Does the Chambre de l’assurance consider that Quebec consumers do not have easy access to financial advice, and that it is important and a priority to equip financial advisors and simplify current processes and constraints that negatively affect the numbe
Answer: The Chambre de l’assurance’s mission is to protect the public by guiding the professional practice of its members. Any change to professionals’ obligations must take this into account. When regulatory adjustments are considered, exchanges with members will be prioritized and projects will be subject to public consultations.
Will university courses (like taxation) be recognized for PDUs, sometime in the future?
Answer: University courses can currently be recognized for PDUs, free of charge. Depending on your permit, you may use the CSF form and attach the course outline and your transcript, or do a Self-declaration of PDUs on the ChAD website.
Are there reserves accumulated by the CSF that are going to be returned to the members who funded them?
Answer: Once collected, member dues are used to establish and operate a public protection ecosystem: continuing education, ethics, investigations, and the discipline committee. The Chambre de l’assurance may constitute certain financial reserves that can be allocated to specific projects. Law 16 provides that the assets of the two merging organizations become the assets of the Chambre de l’assurance. These assets are allocated to maintaining public‑protection activities.
How can a for‑profit continuing education provider continue to sit on the board of the new organization?
Answer: Eligibility requirements to apply for a director position are set out in the Chambre de l’assurance’s internal bylaw, which is under development and will be submitted to consultation. Currently, the ChAD bylaw applies. If an individual meets the criteria, they may apply and be elected. Furthermore, directors must comply with a code of ethics and avoid placing themselves in situations of real or perceived conflict of interest. If such a situation arises, it must be declared and mechanisms will be implemented to manage it.
You highlight the values of respect and goodwill for our new organization. Yet before the merger, CIRO seemed to have little interest in collaborating with the CSF, and during the analysis of the bill, the Minister did not hear the need of multidisciplina
Answer: Yes, the Board of Directors and the entire team of the Chambre de l’assurance work closely with the AMF and with CIRO. We are all committed to finding the best ways to implement the measures set out in Law 16. For example, the AMF listened attentively to our comments on the draft decision recognizing the Chambre de l’assurance as a self‑regulatory organization, which was submitted to public consultation.
Before applying to possibly become a director, can we have the calendar of Board meetings and the schedule of planned meetings for 2026–2027?
Answer: The projected calendar of Board meetings is posted on the nomination page for the Insurance of persons seat that will soon be up for election. This information remains subject to change. Participation in one of the Board’s statutory committees may also affect required availability.
What is your strategy regarding continuing education? Will there be an exemption related to maintaining PDUs?
Answer: Continuing education requirements are currently maintained as is for all members. If changes come to be considered for members of the Chambre de l’assurance, a public‑consultation process is planned in the AMF’s draft recognition decision.
What are our annual dues, paid at the beginning of January, used for?
Answer: Dues are used to maintain services for public protection. This includes training development, digital systems supporting training creation and distribution, maintenance of PDU records, as well as community services, ethics, professional‑practice tools, investigations, discipline committee, regulation, and governance.
This year, members holding only a mutual‑fund or scholarship‑plan licence paid half of the annual dues because their oversight will transfer in July 2026.
What is happening with the committees that already existed?
Answer: Members of the discipline committee of the Chambre de la sécurité financière and those of the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages in office on July 3, 2025 became the members of the discipline committee of the Chambre de l’assurance.
The Committee of Major training providers in damage insurance continues its semi‑annual meetings.
The two CSF advisory committees (Professional Training and Development Committee, Regulatory Monitoring and Compliance of Practices Committee) are currently inactive. The Board and management of the new Chambre de l’assurance are considering the best way to reinstate this consultation channel.
With a dual licence, will it be possible to work for two different firms: one in damage insurance and one in Insurance of persons?
Answer: It is possible to be attached to several firms as long as your AMF registration reflects this and your activities are declared to the firms involved and accepted by them.
As mentioned during the Assembly, about 300 members of the Chambre de l’assurance hold both an Insurance of persons licence and a damage‑insurance licence.
Is it possible to hold an Insurance of persons licence and also work as a real‑estate broker?
Answer: This is now possible under several conditions. Segregation of clientele rules apply. For example, you are prohibited from soliciting or acting as a certified representative for a person for whom you perform real‑estate brokerage activities. Representatives must demonstrate availability and diligence toward clients, maintain independence, and avoid conflicts of interest. Please consult the AMF information: Activities to be declared (Outside activities) | AMF