Prairies small-business owners think twice on insurance claims: poll

After the first break-in, George Chamaa filed an insurance claim. His restaurant was broken into again, a week later — no insurance claim from Chamaa.

Less than half of small-business owners in the Prairies would file insurance claims in an emergency, a new TD Insurance poll found.

“The second (break-in) was a total loss for us,” Chamaa recalled. “My insurance … was very high, so I didn’t bother doing the second claim.”

The first hit came before Chamaa opened Beaurivage Bistro. It was November 2024; the Corydon Avenue eatery had just received stock. Thieves burst through the front door and caused more than $15,000 in damage, Chamaa relayed.

He filed an insurance claim, raising his premium. The second incident — where criminals entered through a window — found Chamaa paying about $2,500 out of pocket for damages.

“That’s why our place looks like a jail here,” Chamaa said, nodding to bars now covering the Winnipeg restaurant’s windows.

Half of TD Insurance’s 98 Prairies respondents said they’d turned to bank loans instead of insurance. Forty-six per cent use credit cards; 49 per cent cash out investments.

More than one-third — 38 per cent — said they’d lean on family and friends for help.

The survey included 400 Canadian small-business owners and senior executives. Findings in the Prairies are comparable to national averages.

Loren Remillard, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s president, has clocked entrepreneurs not filing insurance claims to avoid higher insurance premiums.

“Especially if there’s a concern that these will be repeated claims,” Remillard said. “Ultimately, that may run the risk of (companies) being unable to secure property insurance coverage going forward.

“It is a legitimate concern.”

Instead, small businesses have footed bills for repeated instances of vandalism like broken windows. It’s been a growing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic, Remillard said.

Winnipeg property crimes between June 2024 and May 2025 totalled 47,355 reports. It’s a 2.6 per cent year-over-year decrease but a 0.9 per cent rise above the five-year average, Winnipeg Police Service data show.

Remillard said he’s heard “a growing frustration and point of exhaustion around criminal activity” from chamber members.

Chamaa joins the crowd. He expressed disappointment at waiting days for police to arrive, following break-ins at Beaurivage Bistro.

“If I defend myself, I go to jail,” he said. “(And) I try to stay above water. That’s all business people do since 2019.”

Nearly one-third of Prairies respondents to the TD poll cited rising operating costs as their top challenge. More expensive operations makes paying for insurance harder, Remillard noted, adding he’s heard from businesses saving their insurance claim for a “truly significant event.”

Maria Pepe is among the entrepreneurs ready to file an insurance claim should an event occur. She hasn’t needed to during her nine years owning Nucci’s Gelati in Winnipeg. “And I hope we don’t,” she said.

The Harris Poll Canada conducted a survey on behalf of TD Insurance from July 10 to 15. The results were publicized Wednesday.

No margin of error can be ascribed to the results, but a probability sample of that size would carry a margin of error of plus/minus 4.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com