New organization representing independent brokers is established in Quebec

A new broker organization in Quebec dedicated to advancing the particular concerns of independent brokers, La Fédération des Courtiers d’Assurance indépendants du Québec (FCAIQ), is sounding the call to recruit potential members.
“In view of the fact that the status of the fully independent brokerage firm has been in regression for many years, the FCAIQ is being formed to promote consumer’s awareness and better distinguish the independent insurance brokerage firms,” the non-profit organization says on its Web site. “This will allow consumers to make an enlightened decision as to which insurance firm they prefer to associate with.”
The FCAIQ says many aspects of its activities would be of general interest to all types of brokerage firms. “Therefore, the Federation considers the RCCAQ (Regroupement des cabinets de courtage d’assurance du Québec) as an essential partner for all brokerage firms and intends to evolve in collaboration with them,” the Web site says.
But the FCAIQ maintains it is different from the RCCAQ because “RCCAQ’s global organization does not allow brokerage firms, which are fully independent, to debate together on various confidential subjects pertaining to their unique status and their future.”
The organization also says its activities do not reflect on the relationship between independent brokers and insurance carriers.
“The intent of the FCAIQ is not to discredit insurance companies in any manner regarding their partnership initiative within the scope of existing laws,” the organization says. “The goal of the Federation is to distinguish, in the eyes of the consumer, brokerage firms [that] have decided to be fully independent when it comes to their relationship with insurance companies.”
The association is recruiting independent insurance brokerages that meet the following criteria:
•    insurers may not be shareholder of the firm;
•    the firm must exert complete control over its actions and decisions; and
•    the firm must not be in any position as to have an Insurer exert undue influence on any decisions that may be made by the firm. (The FCAIQ will rule on this criterion).
More details about the FCAIQ’s recruitment campaign can be found at: http://www.fcaiq.ca/