Construction Insurance and Surety Bonds

Are you protected and confident in managing your company’s risk? Let the insurance and risk management experts help you gain a practical understanding of insurance and construction surety bonds.

In the first half of this session, you will get an overview of the insurance products needed to address the standard requirements found in the most common construction contracts in Canada. You will learn how the renewable package of insurance products maintained by most contractors meets these requirements, and which other insurance policies must be arranged specifically for each job a contractor undertakes.

The second half of this session focuses on construction surety bonds. By the end of this session, you will understand what bonding is, how to obtain bonds and how to manage a bonding facility. We’ll also give an overview on how bond companies evaluate contactors and what types of bonds are used throughout the construction process.

TOPICS: 

Insurance:

• Insurance requirements of the standard construction contract
• Common variations of insurance coverage requirements you may encounter
• Course of construction property insurance
• Delayed start-up coverage
• General liability – coverages and exclusions
• Wrap-up liability – who and what is covered
• Insurance certificates and undertaking of insurance letters – what your broker needs to issue required documents

Surety Bonds:

• Explanation on what bonding is, the parties involved and when bonds are required
• Explanation on the different types of bonds and prequalification documents requested
• How to request a bond or bonding letter – what information is needed in tender stage and after award
• Components of a surety facility (indemnity agreement, limits, rates)
• How to maintain a surety facility - what is required to keep the facility in good standing and what should be shared with your broker
• Information your broker will collect from you and why they ask for it
• What you can expect from your bond company and your broker

Anyone in the industry looking to enhance their knowledge of construction insurance and surety bonds.

Patrick Smoke, Partner, Apex Surety & Insurance Ltd.

Patrick Smoke, B. Comm. (Hons.), CAIB, CRIS, has advanced knowledge of not only the contractual requirements contractors will encounter within Canada but also risk mitigation practices contractors should be familiar with to best position themselves for success.

Patrick has worked alongside both large and small contractors, and specialty sub trades addressing both simple and complex project specific insurance placements. He also regularly provides consultative services for his clients to identify specific risks within a project and what contractors can do to help protect themselves while also keeping in mind their bottom line.

Sel Tse, Partner, Apex Surety & Insurance Ltd.

Sel Tse, CPA, CGA, CAIB, is a professional accountant and specialist in construction surety bonds with over 18 years of experience working in the industry. He has garnered extensive technical knowledge of the construction industry and the role surety bond plays in the industry servicing various clients with revenues of $500,000 to over $1 billion. 

He is actively involved in the construction industry as a member of various associations and is a regular contributor to courses hosted by the Winnipeg Construction Association. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, hockey and spending time with family.