Non-admitted taxes range from 10 to 30 percent. There are 28 active reinsurers in Canada. Currently, the top five are Munich Reinsurance Group, Swiss Reinsurance Group, SAFR Partner Re, Scor Canada Reinsurance Company, and Employers Reinsurance Corp., accounting for 48 percent of the total net written premium. Local retention of insurance companies should be a minimum of 25 percent on a portfolio basis, limited to a maximum retention for each company based on their capital and surplus. The majority of commercial insurance is written through brokers.
Direct business is possible but is highly unusual.
All of the major international insurance brokers are represented in Canada, with Marsh Canada Limited and Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. being the largest. Normally, brokers are compensated via commissions, with the average rate being 15 percent in 1999. Claims Canada is a large country with the population concentrated in a few centers. The job of handling claims in such a vast area can be difficult. These firms offer services in most centers of Canada as well as a worldwide network for claims handling outside the country.