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President´s Message
Art Langley
RIBO Council Election I encourage brokers to carefully consider running for RIBO Council. The success of our industry depends on the dedication of all of us and the coming election presents brokers with and excellent opportunity to contribute and make a difference to our profession. The chance to become a member of the RIBO Council is offered through the fall election where there will be three seats available on RIBO Council. The commitment currently required of a successful candidate averages about one to two days a month and includes service on one or more sub-committees of Council. All Council members participate in the qualification and registration committee, which usually meets before the monthly board meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. Travel and overnight (if necessary) expenses are covered by RIBO and each director receives a per diem for meeting days. There may be the occasional month when there are two meetings, however this is a rare occurrence. In addition to regular board meetings, some directors sit on a complaint panel, requiring them to attend two to three hearings a year. Nomination details are provided along with highlights of the specific regulatory requirements. These requirements are taken directly from Bylaw 21. All nominations are due at the RIBO office no later than 4 p.m. on September 15. A photograph and a brief biography of no more than 100 words should also be included with your nominations. I encourage anyone interested in running for election to contact a director. We would be happy to speak with you. Renewal Information This is a very important edition of the Bulletin as it contains the 2003-2004 fee structure and information on the renewal process. As you will notice, we've had to raise this year's fees in anticipation of rising operating costs. Continuing Education Also included with this issue of the Bulletin is a copy of the Continuing Education Summary for each individual member. Once again, this includes an overview of the entire program. It is important to keep this in your records for future reference. I encourage everyone to get their hours done early to avoid any suspensions of licensing. I wish you all a safe and relaxing summer! Yours truly, Art Langley 
 Qualification and Registration Report
Rod FinlaysonChairperson I hope everyone enjoyed the few nice days of spring and you're now looking forward to a long summer. Over the last few months the Qualification & Registration Department has been extremely busy keeping up with the new entrants into our business. We are also seeing a steady number of individuals crossing over from the insurance company and agent side. With their prior property and casualty experience we are able to offer them our equivalency exam on the RIBO Act, Regulations and By-laws. I am pleased to report that this reciprocity exam is back in circulation after being rescinded in December 2002. We are also seeing an increase in brokerage firms amalgamating their corporations. When this happens we require a new business application. Both Lilian Croucher and Vivian Lee will be happy to provide you with assistance during this process. Please refer to the continuing education warning. If you find yourself in this situation, I suggest that you attach an explanation in your renewal application. Our Financial Investigators have reported difficulty in obtaining continuing education certificates for individuals who have changed brokerages within the five-year spot-check period. Although it is the individual's responsibility to keep these records, firms who also maintain the certificate must provide the individual with copies to ensure their own file is current for RIBO purposes. Once again the RIBO election is upon us. I encourage everyone eligible to cast your vote. Over the last three months, the Qualification and Registration Committee reviewed 41 requests for secondary business exemptions. The exemption breakdown was as follows: 12 individuals were granted exemptions to sell financial products, 28 individuals were granted other secondary business exemptions while one individual was refused a secondary business exemption. The Committee also reviewed the suitability of one candidate and allowed registration with conditions. They also had a hearing for a secondary business exemption, which was granted with attached conditions. Best wishes for a safe and happy summer to you and your family.
Release of Personal Information
It has recently come to our attention that headhunters have contacted individual brokers claiming to have received their names from RIBO. We believe these headhunters are searching our web site on a random basis using the first or last name. Our web site shows your name and the brokerage name and phone number. RIBO has a very strict policy regarding the release of personal information. We will not provide any personal details without written authorization from the individual in question.
NOTICE OF ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
Notice is hereby given that the annual election of council members will be held on Monday, November 3, 2003 at which time three council members are to be elected for a term of three years. Registrants have the opportunity to nominate candidates, including incumbents if they agree to have their names put forward for election to serve another term. A nomination form with instructions is enclosed in this edition of the Bulletin. Eligibility for election is set out in RIBO By-law No. 21, Section 1 (2) as follows: Each person who is an individual member of the corporation (RIBO) and,
is eligible to stand for election to the Council in accordance with this Regulation. Nominations, a brief biography (under 100 words), outlining professional qualifications and record of community service, and a photograph must be received in writing by the Manager at the RIBO office no later than 4:00 p.m., on September 15, 2003. In early October, each registered insurance broker will receive a list of nominated candidates. The nomination sheet will be accompanied by a ballot form and a return envelope to be delivered to the RIBO office to the attention of the Manager, no later than 4:00 p.m. on the date of the election, November 3, 2003.
DEADLINE FOR RENEWAL APPLICATIONS AUGUST 31, 2003
Renewal applications for all active individuals and firms will be forwarded to the address of the brokerage firm. Principal Brokers must make sure renewal applications are distributed to all brokers operating in or outside of the main office. It is the Principal Broker's responsibility to ensure that the renewal application forms for their business are properly completed and submitted on time. In addition, they are expected to ensure that all individual brokers associated with the brokerage firm comply with the continuing education requirements and renew their registration. It remains the responsibility of each individual member to ensure that his or her registration is renewed. Please contact RIBO if you do not receive your renewal application form by July 31, 2003. Below are the categories for registration renewals: Sole Proprietors, Partnerships & Corporations: The renewal form must be completed and signed by the Principal Broker. For Partnerships and Corporations, any changes to share information or partners not previously reported, must be presented at this time. Individuals: All individuals must complete and sign the renewal form. Please make sure that the continuing education question is answered in order to confirm compliance. "Inactive": Brokers registered as "inactive" must renew their registration and complete their continuing education requirement in order to maintain their status. Forms will be mailed directly to the address RIBO has on file. Please make sure that RIBO has your current address on file. Non-Active Firms: All Non-Active Firms will receive an application to renew their registration. PLEASE NOTE: Cheques may be post-dated up to August 31, 2003.
Warning
In last year's renewal process we found some individuals answering "yes" to completing their continuing education requirements when in fact they had not. If you have not completed your hours at the time of signing your renewal application, you must answer "no". Answering otherwise is falsification of the renewal application. Anyone found falsifying the application will have their registration immediately suspended and may be prosecuted through the Complaints and Discipline Committee.
Privacy Requirements
All brokers must now be taking steps to ensure compliance with the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) which takes effect January 1, 2004. Below is a list of examples of what brokers must do to comply with PIPEDA:
For further guidance please refer to the federal and provincial Privacy Commissioner websites listed below for further guidance: "Your Privacy Responsibilities: A Guide to Businesses and Organizations" is available on the Privacy Commissioner of Canada's Website, www.privcom.gc.ca. "Privacy Diagnostic Tool (PDT) Workbook" is available on the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner's Website, www.ipc.on.ca.
2003-2004 FEE STRUCTURE
FEE INCREASE For the first time in ten years, we find it necessary to raise our annual license fees. This is due to increased rent and computer costs. FEE DISCOUNT RIBO will allow a $25 early payment reduction in the 2003-2004 renewal fee for all RIBO members, both individuals and firms. Please note that payment must be received by August 31, 2003 in order to qualify. PENALTY FEE Brokers who allow their registration to lapse are required to pay a $150 penalty fee to have their license reinstated. This is in addition to the registration and reinstatement fee.
DECISIONS OF THE DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
CAUTION: While the information contained below is public, members should take caution that inappropriate use of this information may be considered to be an act of misconduct. Vicky Gail HigginsRegistration Number: R21997 Windsor, Ontario MISCONDUCT: Ont. Reg. 991, s.16(5) PARTICULARS OF THE COMPLAINT
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE'S DISPOSITION (05/01/03)
Registration Number: R15449 Toronto, Ontario MISCONDUCT: Ont. Reg. 991, ss. 14(1)(3); 16(5) PARTICULARS OF THE COMPLAINT
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE'S DISPOSITION (05/01/03)
ANNUAL MEETING
The 22st Annual Meeting of members of the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario will take place on Thursday, November 6 at 2 p.m. at the Grand Hotel in downtown Toronto. A formal notice of meeting, annual report and proxy will be mailed to each registrant in good standing in early October. All registrants are eligible to attend and to vote on matters properly brought before the meeting.
Addition & Deletions from the RIBO Register
Feb 28, 2003 - May 23, 2003
Members of Council - Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario
Member Assistance Directory
RIBO Office: (416) 365-1900 or 1-800-265-3097 Fax: (416) 365-7664
P.O. Box 45, 401 Bay Street, Suite 1200, Simpson Tower, Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4 Receptionist - Madeline Ross General Manager - Jeff Bear (jeff@ribo.com) Secretary - Lise Clements (lise@ribo.com) ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Manager - George Martin (george@ribo.com) Accounting & Data Supervisor Registration/Data Entry - Irene Chung (irene@ribo.com), Erica Lo (erica@ribo.com), Karla Poirier (karla@ribo.com), Valrie Bailey (valrie@ribo.com) COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS Manager - Tim Goff (tim@ribo.com) Complaints Officer - Sharon Bentley (sharon@ribo.com) Senior Investigators - Nadine Austin (nadine@ribo.com), Crystal Skyvington (crystal@ribo.com) Secretary - Angela Daley (angela@ribo.com) Co-ordinator - Diana Campoli (diana@ribo.com) Financial Investigators - Michael Buck (michael@ribo.com), Filomena Scampoli (filomena@ribo.com) CORPORATION LEGAL SERVICES In-house Legal Counsel - Bradley Nairn (bradley@ribo.com) Secretary - Angela Daley (angela@ribo.com) MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Communications Co-ordinator - Susan MacKenzie (susan@ribo.com) QUALIFICATION & REGISTRATION Manager - Lilian Croucher (lilian@ribo.com) Assistant - Vivian Lee (vivian@ribo.com) Secretary - Sonia Lyew Garcia (sonia@ribo.com) Clerk - Laurie Reynolds (laurie@ribo.com)
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