Hiring a snow removal contractor without verifying insurance is one of the most common and costly mistakes Ontario commercial property managers make. A contractor working on your property without adequate coverage can expose your organization to liability for worker injuries, third-party claims, and property damage that should be the contractor's responsibility. Requiring and verifying proper insurance certificates is not optional due diligence — it is a baseline business requirement for every commercial property engagement.
Required Insurance Coverages for Snow Removal Contractors
For commercial snow removal contractors working on Ontario commercial properties, there are two essential insurance coverages that every property manager must verify before work begins:
Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance: CGL covers third-party claims for bodily injury and property damage arising from the contractor's operations on your property. If a customer slips and falls in your parking lot and sues both you and the snow removal contractor, the contractor's CGL coverage is what protects your property from being the sole source of damages. The standard minimum for commercial snow removal contractors in Ontario is $2 million per occurrence. Many commercial property managers and their insurers require $5 million per occurrence, particularly for high-traffic commercial sites.
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) Clearance: WSIB coverage ensures that if a contractor's worker is injured on your property, the claim is handled through WSIB rather than through a civil suit against your organization. In Ontario, if a contractor does not have WSIB coverage, the injured worker may be entitled to sue the property owner directly — bypassing the workers' compensation system. A current WSIB Clearance Certificate, available through the WSIB online portal, confirms the contractor is in good standing with the Board and their account is active.
Reading a Certificate of Insurance
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is the document your contractor provides as evidence of their coverage. Key things to verify on a COI:
- Insured party name: The name on the certificate must match the contracting entity — the legal name of the business you are contracting with. A certificate in a different company name provides you no protection from the contractor you're actually using.
- Coverage amounts: Confirm the per-occurrence and aggregate limits meet your minimum requirements.
- Policy period: The policy must be active during the entire contract period — verify that it covers the full winter season, not just the date of issue.
- Additional insured endorsement: Many commercial property managers require that the property owner be named as an Additional Insured on the contractor's CGL policy. This means that if a claim arises, your organization can receive direct coverage under the contractor's policy rather than relying on indemnification from the contractor.
- Notice of cancellation: Request that the certificate include a 30-day notice of cancellation provision, so you are informed if the contractor's coverage lapses during the season.
Verifying WSIB Clearance
Do not rely solely on a printed WSIB clearance certificate provided by the contractor — verify it directly through the WSIB Online Services portal at wsib.ca. A certificate can be printed with false information; direct portal verification is the only reliable method. Enter the contractor's business number to receive a real-time clearance status. This verification should be done at contract start and periodically through the season (mid-season check is good practice for multi-month contracts).
Note that WSIB coverage applies to employees of incorporated contractors. Sole proprietors working without employees are not required to have WSIB coverage under Schedule 1 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. If your contractor is an unincorporated individual or sole proprietor, discuss the liability implications with your commercial insurance advisor.
Maintaining Insurance Records
Keep a file for each snow removal contractor that includes the current certificate of insurance, the additional insured endorsement, and the WSIB clearance certificate, updated at the start of each season. In the event of a claim, this file is one of the first things your insurer or legal counsel will request. Disorganized or missing records create unnecessary exposure at exactly the moment you need your documentation to be in order.
D&D Snow Services provides current certificates of insurance and WSIB clearance to all commercial clients upon request and at the start of each contract period. Contact us at (519) 502-3905 to review our coverage documentation before committing to a contract.
Key Takeaways for Ontario Commercial Property Managers
- Require minimum $2M CGL per occurrence and active WSIB clearance from every snow removal contractor.
- Verify the insured party name on the certificate matches your contracting entity exactly.
- Request an Additional Insured endorsement naming your organization on the contractor's CGL policy.
- Verify WSIB clearance directly through wsib.ca — do not rely solely on printed certificates.
- Maintain an organized insurance file for each contractor, updated each season.
- D&D Snow Services provides full insurance documentation — contact us to review before signing.
Fully Insured Commercial Snow Removal in Waterloo Region
D&D Snow Services carries full commercial general liability coverage and maintains active WSIB clearance. Free estimates available.
Get Commercial Snow Quote (519) 502-3905