The serious storm and the defrosting of the winter which struck eastern Canada in February left a mass insurance bill, with hundreds of millions of damages assured.
Canada’s insurance office says that, in the first two months of 2025, the weather caused around $ 260 million in insured damage in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
The office also notes that this number does not include damage at the end of the Ontario ice storm at the end of March, estimates that should be released in the coming weeks.
“With many Ontarians who are still struggling with the persistent impacts of the recent ice storm, residents have again experienced a severe winter with serious storms and floods that have damaged or destroyed houses, vehicles and businesses,” said Amanda Dean, vice-president of the Ontario office and the Atlantic region.
“While parts of Quebec and Atlantic Canada have been affected by these events, the vast majority of damage took place in Ontario, with strong snowfall, strong gusts of wind, ice and rain causing significant structural damage. Our member insurers have been on the ground from the first day and continue to work with insured people whose property has been damaged by these events. ”
The office warns that the frequency and severity of the floods and serious storms in Ontario and across Canada continue to increase each year.
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In 2025, home insurance rates increased by 5.28%, well above the inflation rate, according to a report published by My Choice Financial, a Canadian insurance aggregator and a comparison website.
Although there are several factors, insurance experts say climate change is a major driving force.
Earlier this month, Canada’s insurance office told Global News that the losses insured were at record heights in Canada.
The Canada Insurance Bureau declared record losses of $ 8.5 billion paid in 2024, a triple that we saw in 2023 and 12 times the annual average between 2001 and 2010.
“Floods and severe winter storms can be costly, stressful and difficult for affected people,” said Dean.
The main storms leading to 260 million dollars include more than $ 90 million in assured damage from February 15 to 19, when a severe winter storm trace in the south of the Great Lakes and in Atlantic Canada has resulted in strong snowfall, strong gusts of wind, ice and southern Ontario rain.
Experts say that the same region has been affected by a snowstorm a few days earlier, leading to a high accumulation with a short time to alleviate the impacts of storms.
The office reports that time has led to numerous structural collapse reports in Ontario and Quebec, as well as other structural damage and current failures.
Meanwhile, many municipalities in southern Ontario have also declared significant weather events and more than 600 collisions were reported on the roads of Ontario.
Strong winds have also caused power outages in Atlantic Canada, with around 6,000 without electricity on February 17, most in Nova Scotia.
More than $ 160 million losses took place a week later, from February 24 to 26, when temperatures quickly climbed well over frost for the first time in weeks.
The office reports that the rapid change in temperature, associated with certain precipitation, caused the mealing of the snowpack quickly in Ontario and Quebec, causing floods in areas and low basements, leading to the majority of affirmations.
Damage reports also included roofs that collapse due to snow load, including six -story parking in Ottawa which has partially collapsed, trapping around 50 vehicles, reports the office.
“What we see is that the level of risk across the country is increasing, whether it is the threat of Hurricane in Atlantic, hailstorms in Alberta, or forest fires across the country. The most expensive and serious event that we live in Canada is flood,” said Jason Clark, National Director of Climate Change and Federal Insurance of Canada, month.
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