Industry Expertise

Équité Association’s 2024 Annual Report explores a year marked by strategic achievements, technological advancements, and an unwavering commitment to protecting Canadians from insurance crime. Ranging from record-breaking recoveries to contributing expertise leading to over $200 million in government investments to combat auto theft, 2024 solidified Équité's position as the national authority on insurance crime and fraud prevention. This report not only highlights Équité’s tangible successes but also underscores the collaborative efforts that are critical to our collective impact.

Équité Association is celebrating Pride Month alongside our staff, members and partners who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Insurance crimes disproportionately affect the most disenfranchised and marginalized communities. Language can be powerful – the words we use can shape how we think and can influence in different ways. The historic injustice of the LGBTQ+ community underscores how language usage can help people feel included, valued and safe in their workplace.

While trend forecasting can be challenging due to constant shifts in global and national trade policy, there are several indicators that Équité Association is watching closely. Economic decline due to increased unemployment and cost of living, international implications of tariffs and trade policies, as well as catastrophic climate events are all trends that emerge during challenging times.

Équité Association unveiled Canadian Q1 2025 auto theft trends, which shows a continued national decrease in vehicle theft (-23.3%) alongside concerning recovery rates of stolen vehicles (58.3% of stolen vehicles were recovered in Q1 2025 with 63.1% in Q1 2024). A strong governmental and law enforcement approach to combatting auto theft is supporting a progressive decrease. However, on a backdrop of economic headwinds and the complexities of international trade, there is a concerning increase in unrecovered stolen vehicles.

Shelley Khan, Vice President, Claims Legal Counsel, Litigation and Special Risks at Desjardins Group shines a spotlight on advances in technology that are enabling better fraud detection and prevention. Desjardins Group is the largest cooperative financial group in North America and has been named one of Canada's Best Employers by Forbes Magazine and Mediacorp.

Équité and the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), Ontario’s motor vehicle regulator, have collaborated on this article to look at who is stealing these vehicles, why they are being stolen, and where they are ending up. This awareness will help drivers and car buyers understand scams and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Elliott Silverstein, Director, Government Relations at CAA Insurance brings focus to the auto theft crisis in Canada and shares how they are working to protect clients and the communities they live in. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), established in 1903, has a long history of advocating for its members. CAA insurance was the first to offer a discount for using winter tires and introduced CAA MyPace, Canada’s first pay-as-you-go auto insurance program.

Chris Vinall, Senior Leader, SIU & Triage, Verify Fraud and Financial Crime Investigative Services at Aviva Canada, shares insights into the trending fraud of staged collisions and how technology has been a game-changer when working to identify fraud and protect customers and communities. Aviva Canada is the second largest property and casualty insurance group in the country, providing home, automobile, lifestyle, and business insurance to 2.5 million customers.

Etienne Berlinguet, Senior Vice President of Claims Canada at Intact, shares insights around emerging fraud trends and working to keep their customers and communities safe. Intact Insurance is Canada's largest home, auto and business insurance company, with over four million customers.

Équité Association and the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) are both committed to protecting Canadians on behalf of the insurance industry. This is why we are collaborating to increase public awareness about the seriousness of insurance fraud and how ghost brokers facilitate that fraud.