The "Underinsurance" Trap: Why Canadian Property Owners Are Falling Short in 2026
Date: February 7, 2026 Topic: Insurance Claims / Construction Inflation Key Legal Context: Emond v. Trillium Mutual Insurance Co. (SCC, 2026) In the wake of a record-breaking year for insured losses—surpassing $8.5 billion in 2024 alone—a quiet crisis is emerging across Canada. While wildfires in Jasper and floods in Toronto have dominated the headlines, a secondary disaster is unfolding in the fine print of insurance policies: Underinsurance . Due to a relentless spike in construction materials and labor costs, which have risen approximately 67% over the last five years (vastly outpacing the 18% general inflation rate), many Canadian property owners are discovering too late that their coverage limits are woefully inadequate. This gap between policy limits and actual rebuilding costs has triggered a surge in disputes, making valuation the new battleground for public adjusters. The Mechanism of Disaster: The Co-Insurance Penalty The most dangerous aspect of underinsuranc...