Risk Management

The information contained herein does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you need legal help, you are advised to consult with legal counsel.

Claims

Like most Canadian municipalities, the City of Port Coquitlam provides compensation to claims only when it is legally liable for the damages sustained.

The City is not an insurer of private property. If you have insurance coverage, the City recommends that you submit your claim for damages to your insurance company first. Your insurance company may choose to submit a subrogation claim to the City seeking damages from the City to compensate for their expenses and your deductible.

Notice Requirement

If proceeding with a claim, please note that under Section 736(1) of the Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c 1, requires written notice to be delivered to the City, setting out the time, place and manner in which the damage was sustained, within two months of the date such damage was sustained.

How To File A Claim

If a person feels that the City is responsible for any damages sustained and wishes to make a claim, they may do so by submitting a claim form. Sign and date the form, attach all supporting documents/photos and submit it.

Online Claim Form

If unsure how to file a claim, or would like a claim form mailed, or emailed to you, or you have filed a claim and have questions about the investigation or status of the claim, please contact Claims at [email protected] or 604-927-5232.

What Happens After A Claim Submission

Once a claim is received, it is then acknowledged, investigated and may be responded to with a request or requests for more information, and an acceptance or a denial of liability. Please note that determination of a claim may take several weeks or longer.

Appeal Process

If a person wishes to appeal a denial of their claim they may do so through either the BC Provincial Court or the BC Supreme Court. The Mayor and/or Council do not hear appeals on claims-related matters.

The information contained herein does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you need legal help, you are advised to consult with legal counsel.

Responding To Incidents

Incidents that could be faced by City residents may include the following:

In any of the above situations, try to record or preserve all relevant evidence.  Where possible, take photos of the hazard that caused your loss.  Record the names and contact information of any witnesses that might have important information to support your claim.

The information contained herein does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you need legal help, you are advised to consult with legal counsel.