Insurance firms pledge small-business help as pressure to address rising rates mounts

A group representing Canadian insurance companies has launched a team that will help small businesses find affordable coverage as rates rise during the pandemic, but critics expressed skepticism over the move. The Insurance Bureau of Canada, an association that represents the industry, said Thursday that the team will start its work by focusing on helping the hard-hit hospitality sector in Ontario. The move comes after business owners and politicians raised concerns over increasing instances of sky-rocketing commercial insurance rates and outright denial of coverage in some cases.