Operation Red Nose was a success in Ontario this holiday season thanks to a partnership from Insurance Brokers and the Ontario Safety League.
IBAO partnered with the Ontario Safety League to ensure that all ‘Red Nose’ vehicles in Ontario had the proper insurance for the 2011 season. IBAO is thrilled to relay the results of Operation Red Nose (ORN) from this past December.
During the 2011 holiday season, a total of 18,202 Ontario citizens received a safe ride home thanks to the Operation Red Nose program. ORN is available in 15 communities across the province, and over 5,874 volunteers generously donated their time to help keep their towns and cities safe during the holidays. In all participating areas, ORN achieved their goal of zero collisions, zero injuries and zero fatalities during their operating hours. A total of 236,001 KM were driven, which was an increase of 16% over last year, and ORN collected a staggering $151,227 in donation funds.
Brian Patterson, President of Ontario Safety League is pleased with the support community volunteers and corporate partners have made to Operation Red Nose, resulting in a resounding success. The Ontario Safety League is looking forward to increased engagement in 2012 and hope that the increased awareness generated by Operation Red Nose will have a lasting impact on reducing impaired driving year round.
Since its creation in 1984, Operation Red Nose and its safe ride home service have become the most important road safety campaign against impaired driving in Canada. During this past holiday season, the program ran on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
IBAO is honoured to assist Operation Red Nose and we are so pleased to share its successful statistics from this past holiday season. Randy Carroll, IBAO CEO says that this partnership is completely aligned with our broker’s mandate to inform and protect Ontario’s citizens of the dangers associated with impaired driving.
For more information on ORN check out these videos:
New for 2012 – CAIB Live Web Conferencing Discussion Groups
REGISTRATION DEADLINE – December 1st, 2011
How will you step up your game?
Attracting and retaining customers in today’s marketplace is becoming more challenging. Consumers expect more and are more willing to shop if their needs are not met. Knowing your product and having the confidence to convey that knowledge is critical to your success. Completing CAIB and/or CPIB will provide you with the tools to deliver that essential customer experience.
Benefits in attaining your broker designation:
· Greater Industry Knowledge
· More Confidence with Clients
· Achieve Personal Goals
· Improved Customer Service
· Career Advancement
· Advanced Standing Credits in MBA/H. B Comm Programs
Have you heard of the CAIB designation?
The Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker is a four part designation program that takes an in-depth look at technical coverages and business management strategies in the Canadian insurance marketplace. It deals with three major subject areas: personal lines, commercial lines and brokerage management.
New for 2012 – CAIB Web Conferencing
Group Discussion will now be offered online through live video web conferencing every week for the duration of the semester. This new service will be online for the upcoming winter semester which commences on the third week of January. For more information please contact Jacob Maga at jmaga@ibao.on.ca.
Have you heard of the CPIB designation?
The Canadian Professional Insurance Broker program is a six part designation program that is designed for Brokers who have achieved the CAIB or CIP, are seeking a specialization and who want a program to enhance their knowledge of the insurance industry. Brokers can select one of three streams of specialization depending on their interests: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines or Broker Management. Within each stream, brokers must complete three mandatory insurance courses and three elective business courses offered at a recognized college or university of their choice.
More Information:
Please direct any questions on the CAIB and CPIB programs to Jacob Maga at jmaga@ibao.on.ca
or 416-488-7422 or 1-800-268-8845 ext. 119.
Don’t just take our word for it, watch our video testimonials for CAIB and CPIB
One of IBAO’s key priorities continues to be promoting and encouraging safe driving. In October 2009, the government of Ontario introduced a new law banning the use of hand-held devices while driving. IBAO and its members support this law and are committed to educating the people of Ontario on the dangers associated with distracted driving. To date, nine Canadian provinces have banned the use of hand-held cell phones across the country.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation recently revealed a study indicating that when a motorist is distracted for more than two seconds, their chances of being involved in a car collision doubles! The study also reveals that a motorist distracted by a cell phone or other hand-held device is four times more likely to be in a collision than a focused driver.
The number of collisions caused at the fault of a distracted driver is alarming. More troubling however is the close to 40,000 Ontario drivers who have been ticketed for driving while using a hand-held device. Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution! Keep your phone in your purse or glove compartment and if you have to make a call while driving, make sure you are using a hands free receiver.
Stay focused and drive safe!
IBAO applauds the recent announcement by the Ontario government on new changes coming into effect to protect Ontario’s young drivers, beginning August 1, 2010. The new law states that all young drivers under the age of 21, as well as new motorists, will be required to have a zero blood alcohol level when behind the wheel.
This new legislation was first introduced last year and particularly aims to protect young drivers, which statistics have shown, are most at risk for being involved in drinking and driving related incidents.
Encouraging safe driving has been and continues to be a central focus for IBAO and its members. Especially when you consider that the number one cause of death for people aged 16-24 in Ontario is still alcohol related automobile accidents. IBAO’s CEO Randy Carroll commented that the new legislation promises to diminish the number of fatalities in province significantly.
IBAO has been in proud partnership with the Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) for more than a decade. Together, they are committed to teaching Ontario students about the dangers of driving while under the influence.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation highlighted some of the following consequences associated with the new legislation.
All drivers 21 years of age and younger must have a zero blood alcohol level when they get behind the wheel or face:
• An immediate 24-hour licence suspension
• 30-day licence suspension
• Up to $500 in fines
You are encouraged to visit the Ministry’s official website, Ontario Ministry of Transportation for more information.
Students especially are encouraged to visit OSAID’s new interactive website, www.OSAID.org for more information on this youth driven organization.
IBAO also recently created a video to highlight other changes to drinking and driving laws in Ontario that affect all drivers.
Watch it here: Drinking and Driving Laws Are Tougher - Be Prepared
IBAO is excited to announce we have launched our consumer focused blog on the myinsuranceshopper.ca website. Check it out!
The blog will offer insurance tips and information for consumers, mostly in video format. A good portion of the content will cover the new auto regulations coming into effect on September 1, 2010. The blog will also offer an opportunity for consumers to post comments and questions that brokers or other consumers can answer directly on the page. The comments will remain on the blog, which might help other visitors looking for the same information in the future.
Earlier this year, IBAO began using social media as an additional means to connect with our members using some of the best social networking tools available today. We are moving at a great pace with developing an online community of brokers and industry peers, and our members are responding with comments and questions on our blog, 'retweets' on Twitter, and discussions on Facebook.
We encourage you to get involved in social media. The long term intention is for consumers and brokers to share conversations within this online environment. Plenty of IBAO members are already seeing the value of using social media as means to connect with industry peers, existing customers and prospects. What are you waiting for?
IBAO’s CEO Randy Carroll was featured on CBC’s News investigative consumer show, Marketplace to discuss the continuing debate in regards to the use of credit scoring for measuring home insurance premiums earlier this month.
The show’s host, Wendy Mesley, spoke with several frustrated Canadian consumers who saw incredible increases in their home insurance once their insurance company began using credit scoring as a means to measure their risk.
Watch the show here:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/rate_hike_outrage/main.html
The basic principal being applied here is that many insurance companies are now using consumer credit scores as a tool to measure financial health. They say that if you suffer from a lower score, you are statistically more likely to make a future claim.
What does this mean for those of us paying home insurance premiums? It signifies that regardless if you have never made a claim in the past or have never missed a payment to your insurance company, some insurance companies will still measure your rate on your overall credit score.
As you may have guessed, this process has unfortunately been leaving those who are most financially in need paying more than those who are more financially stable.
Now in regards to the insurance companies saying they have statistical facts to back up their choices, Randy Carroll added “It doesn’t mean it’s right and it doesn’t mean it is a tool we should be using. Insurance needs to be about affordability and availability; it doesn’t need to be about a social or lifestyle rating.”
Shockingly, Marketplace claims that 87% of Canadians have no idea that their credit scores are being used to measure their rates. A fact that IBAO agrees with, “some players in the industry have taken it upon themselves to take advantage of consumers consent that was given at the time of application, that could have been 15 years ago, could’ve been last year. It’s still wrong.”
To view the show in its entirety, visit: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/rate_hike_outrage/main.html
How sharp are your sales skills? Selling skills are essential to Acquiring and Retaining Customers, Remaining Competitive, and, most importantly, Growing Your Business!
The IBAO School of Insurance offers an exceptional 3-Day professional sales program designed exclusively for Canadian insurance brokers. The Professional Selling for Insurance Brokers program is a proven program created by the Canadian Professional Sales Association, specially adapted for professional insurance brokers.
Participants will leave the course with a greater awareness of the sales dynamic, with improved listening skills, better understanding of client and supplier needs, and the ability to develop intelligent solutions. Program content will focus on Self-Management Skills, Business Creation, Selling Process, and Building and Managing the Business.
Fees: $1,295 per participant (IBAO Members only - course fees include materials and lunch for all three days)
Participants receive 16 RIBO CE Credits, and completion of this program fulfills the sales component of the Canadian Professional Insurance Broker designation.
Register Online at https://members.ibao.org/source/Events/EventList.cfm or contact Michelle Gwatiringa at mgwatiringa@ibao.on.ca or by phone 416-488-7422 ext. 102.