By Vincent Gaudreau, CIB, FCIP, CRM, insurance broker and RCCAQ chair

We are hard at work on various issues aimed at ensuring the brokerage sector's long-term viability. As regards professional development, we recently obtained two major victories that will benefit you. The next step involves setting up a partnership with ChAD so you can select the institution providing the new mandatory compliance course.

Background
Last January, the RCCAQ voiced its opposition to proposed changes to ChAD's mandatory professional development regulations. Under those changes, you would have had to pay up to 40% more for your professional development units (PDUs) in the area of compliance! Our lobbying paid off: although a new set of regulations was adopted, a number of provisions were eased.

Partnerships are authorized
The first proposed change would have made it mandatory for all ChAD members to take a 2 PDU compliance course given exclusively by ChAD (and exclusively online) during each reference period.

Thanks to our representations in collaboration with CADD (Quebec association of direct insurers) and AESIQ (Quebec association of independent claims adjustors), the Quebec finance minister backed our request on March 18, when it stipulated that the course could be given by ChAD or by other industry stakeholders in partnership with ChAD.

In other words, ChAD will be developing the course but will not be the only institution administering it. In addition, representatives taking the course will not have do so online. Please note that we plan to enter into a partnership with ChAD in order to include this course in our training offer and to enable you to select the institution providing it.

Government rejects proposed change
The second proposed change would have made it mandatory for all new ChAD members (and new AMF permit holders) to take a 1 PDU compliance course. This course would have been developed exclusively by ChAD and given exclusively online. This proposal was rejected by the provincial government.

As initially proposed, ChAD's new regulations included two provisions that the RCCAQ regarded as burdensome, particularly in light of current regulations governing training and regulatory compliance.

The RCCAQ welcomes the decision of the finance ministry, which went out of its way to take industry concerns into account.

Other battles
Would you like to know more about other key issues of concern? Please check the list and show your commitment by renewing your RCCAQ membership!