Your news story "District issues riverbank warning," May 18, included a quote, "insurance does not cover acts of God."
In fact, insurance companies do not use the term. Instead, home, car and business insurance policies in Canada clearly list what kind of damage is and is not covered.
Insurance pays for damages caused by natural events the majority of the time, including damage from wind, hail and wildfire.
Properties damaged by things like erosion and overland flooding, however, are not covered by insurance, but it has nothing to do with an "act of God." There is a rational basis for these exclusions.
Because only a small fraction of the population lives where these events have the potential to happen, the majority of homeowners aren't at risk.
It's not fair to ask the majority to pay for damages caused by an event that may only ever be experienced by the few.
For information about home, car and business insurance, visit ibc.ca or call IBC's Consumer Information Centre in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 1-877-772-3777.
Lindsay Olson
Vice-President, BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Insurance Bureau of Canada
