On September 8, 2021, the Quebec Minister of Finance published in Part 2 of the Official Gazette of Quebec a draft of the regulation [Draft Regulation] that specifies the categories of insurance contracts, and insured parties, that may derogate, in part, from the rules set out in articles 2500 and 2503 of the Civil Code of Quebec [CCQ].
Quebec has always been distinct in that the costs associated to the duty to defend are over and above the policy limits. The draft regulation will allow an insurer to deviate from this in certain circumstances.
Public order article 2500 CCQ mandates that a liability insurance policy’s limits must be used solely to pay the claims of injured third-parties (i.e. the claimants). Public order article 2503 CCQ mandates that a) the liability insurer must actively take up the defense of the insured in respect of covered claims, and b) the liability insurer must pay defense expense, interest and third-party costs in addition to policy limits.
The Draft Regulation enables a wide cross section of commercial entities (and their directors, officers and trustees) to obtain insurance that derogates, in part, from arts. 2500 and 2503 CCQ.
However, that derogation is subject to a significant constraint.
Per Section 8 of the Draft Regulation, policies that derogate from art. 2500 CCQ cannot erode more than 50% of their limits via payments made for purposes other than compensating injured third-parties (i.e. defense expense). This restriction does not apply if the insured is either found not liable, or is held liable for an amount that is less than 50% of limits. A further restriction applies to entities that are required by law to have a specified minimum amount of liability insurance (e.g. members of professional orders). That amount of indemnity cannot be eroded by other payments.
The official French version of the draft Regulation can be found here: http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=1&file=75542.pdf
An English version of the draft Regulation can be found here: http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=1&file=105247.pdf
The Exemptions
The entities that benefit from the different exemptions are generally summarized below. N.B.: some of the following descriptions of exempt entities are of a general nature. The legislative definitions referenced in the Draft Regulation should be consulted in order to determine the precise scope of each type of entity that benefits from an exemption.
Section 1 Exemption
Drug manufacturers, Cooperatif Desjardins investment fund entities, FTQ investment fund entities and CSN investment fund entities. The directors, officers, and trustees of these entities can obtain derogating insurance even if the entities do not subscribe to same.
Section 2 Exemption (applicable to entities that do not benefit from Exemption 1)
If their total coverage under all liability insurance contracts is at least $5M, the following entitles can obtain policies that derogate from the requirements of articles 2500 and 2503 CCQ: entities registered as “large businesses” (companies with more than $10M annual taxable sales, generally speaking), public issuers or their subsidiaries, entities registered as “foreign businesses”, and, finally, any otherwise non-exempt domestic companies that engage in any foreign business that generates income, but only for that foreign subset of their activities. The directors, officers, and trustees can obtain derogating insurance even if the entities do not subscribe to same.
Section 3 Exemption (applicable to entities that do not benefit from Exemptions 1 or 2)
Private seniors’ residences, providers of certain senior support services and/or certain similar services, and operators of residential and long-term care or rehab centres (generally speaking). The directors, officers, and trustees can obtain derogating insurance even if the entities do not subscribe to same.
Pension Committee Exception To Exemptions 1, 2 and 3
Directors, officers, and trustees who benefit from Exemptions 1, 2 and 3 are not exempt for activities they perform as members of pension committees. Such activities must be insured under policies that are in conformity with articles 2500 and 2503 CCQ.
Section 6 Exemption (applicable to entities that do not benefit from Exemptions 1, 2 or 3)
If an entity and/or its directors, officers, and trustees do not fall within Exemptions 1, 2, or 3, they can obtain policies that derogate from the requirements of articles 2500 and 2503 CCQ if the entity has a primary layer civil liability insurance policy that is in conformity with said articles.
Other Conditions Applicable to Derogating Policies
Per Section 7 of the Draft Regulation, policies that derogate from the first sentence of art. 2503 CCQ (which provides that the insurer must actively take up the defense of the insured) must provide the insured with the option of selecting defense counsel, after consulting with the insurer. These policies shall also stipulate that the insurer, who retains the right to participate in the defence, must be informed of case developments.
Public Comments
Per the introductory provisions of the Draft Regulation, persons wishing to comment on same are requested to submit written comments within a 45-day period to the Minister of Finance.
