New government affairs office highlights region's vital role in life and health insurance industry
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has opened a new government affairs office focused on serving Western Canada.
The CLHIA’s new office, based in Calgary, is the association’s first permanent operation west of Toronto.
In a statement, CLHIA President and CEO Stephen Frank underscored the “continued and growing importance of Western Canada to Canada's life and health insurers” in the establishment of the new office.
According to the association, there are 59 insurers with operations in the region to provide life insurance, health insurance, and retirement solutions to 8.8 million westerners. Ten insurers are headquartered in Western Canada, including not-for-profit health insurers, some of which play a key role in administering public programs.
“Governments in the west, the Pacific and north are responding to their own challenges,” Frank said. “[T]here's a great deal that insurers can do to help public and private sectors ensure access to prescription drugs and mental health supports, as well as infrastructure investment.”
The CLHIA said its Calgary office will be led by Kim Doran, an experienced public affairs professional and the association’s director of government relations. Aside from supporting CLHIA members operating in the west, the new office will work with provincial and territorial governments and other regional stakeholders.
