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To: Finance Minister of Ontario

Make insurance companies pay out claims to survivors

After I told my husband I wanted a divorce, he set fire to my home, destroying all my belongings and leaving me homeless. Watching my home go up in flames was hard enough, but now my insurance provider, Allstate, is denying my claim because my house was torched “intentionally”.

Unlike other provinces, Ontario’s Insurance Act doesn’t compel insurance companies to pay out claims to victims of arson.

I’m calling on Ontario's Finance Minister to change the law to make sure providers pay out claims to "innocent co-insureds”, otherwise known as survivors of arson -- people like me who shouldn’t have to go through any more anguish by fighting a provider for what we’re rightfully owed.

Why is this important?

My house is rotting from the inside, it’s full of maggots and the stench of smoke is unbearable. I’ve been forced to live in shelter and rely on the goodness of friends and charity. It’s been 11 months and my bank is going to to foreclose on the house.

Nobody should have to go through what I’ve been through. It’s been a nightmare. And I’m not the only one this has happened to. There are lots cases of this happening to women and families throughout Ontario.

Property damage is a common part of abusive relationships. It is often used to threaten, control, and dehumanize. I'm lucky to be alive, but I'm worried about what will happen when my husband gets out of jail in a few months. Allstate Insurance is making my life even more unbearable. It shouldn't be like this.

Insurance is there to protect you, and the government is supposed to make sure that laws and policies are in place to hold these companies accountable to that.

B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec all put laws in place compelling companies to pay out claims to survivors of arson. Ontario should do the same -- it’s reasonable, doable, and just. For many, their lives depend on it.

I don’t want what's happening to me to happen anyone else. Can you help me and other victims by adding your name to my petition?

Updates

2017-04-25 17:14:53 -0400

5,000 signatures reached

2017-04-13 12:40:31 -0400

1,000 signatures reached

2017-04-13 11:14:16 -0400

500 signatures reached

2017-04-13 10:14:02 -0400

100 signatures reached

2017-04-13 10:11:12 -0400

50 signatures reached

2017-04-13 10:09:23 -0400

25 signatures reached

2017-04-13 10:08:22 -0400

10 signatures reached