‘Tailored pricing’ for e-signature product now available to IBAO members

The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) announced Tuesday it has an affinity partnership with electronic signature vendor Silanis Inc., which makes e-SignLive.

“With this partnership, brokers will benefit from tailored pricing for an electronic signature solution chosen to address the unique needs of insurance brokers in Ontario ” IBAO stated in a press release.

E-SignLive lets users capture signatures on their websites, at a point-of-sale, or using desktop, laptop and mobile computers.

“Signers are not required to download anything and can e-sign using only a standard web browser,” says Montreal-based Silanis on its website. “E-SignLive supports click-to-sign, handwritten signature capture, fax-back signing, and more.”

IBAO notes the partnership “comes on the heels” of the eSignatures Vendor Dashboard, launched in 2014 by the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO). That dashboard reviews electronic signature products against legislative and regulatory compliance, workflow efficiency and user experience and pricing and support.

In 2013, CSIO commissioned a report by law firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, which reviewed Canadian laws on electronic signatures and gives advice on how to implement such systems. At the time, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin noted that that no one in Canada can be compelled to use, provide or accept information or a document in an electronic form.

The report also noted that certain notices and declarations – such as a notice of cancellation of a contract of insurance, including for non-payment of premium – are not permitted to be effected by electronic means or electronic notice.

But electronic signatures “are generally permitted by Canadian electronic commerce laws,” according to the report.

“I am very pleased that the IBAO has adopted a product that is aligned with our commissioned advisory report which discusses the legal and regulatory landscape governing e-signatures in Canada,” stated CSIO president and CEO Catherine Smola in an IBAO release Tuesday.