Do Brokers Must Challenge 2026 Ontario Auto Insurance Reform?

This is a sales column by Adam Mitchell, CEO of Mitch Insurance, which critically examines forthcoming Ontario auto insurance reform, particularly changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) set for July 1, 2026. Mitchell argues that while industry participants generally share a responsibility to move the field forward, they must speak up if a strategy is unlikely to achieve positive outcomes. The SABS changes will convert most mandatory accident benefits into optional ones, which the author contends will add complexity and likely result in consumers, especially lower-income individuals, choosing wrong and drastically reducing their coverage without seeing a commensurate reduction in premiums. Furthermore, the changes will negatively affect non-drivers, such as pedestrians and rideshare users, by limiting their access to necessary funds after an accident. Ultimately, Mitchell urges insurance brokers to advocate for clients and educate the public about the risks, as the reforms shift risk from insurers to individuals and move the industry away from its function as a social safety net.