Updates for the 2026-2027 Policy Year

The end of June marks the close of ALIA’s policy year. The new policy year brings with it the 2026–2027 Group Policy, and an important change to the Surcharge Protocol.  

POLICY YEAR END

The 2025–2026 Group Policy expires on June 30, 2026. It will be replaced by the 2026–2027 Group Policy, effective July 1, 2026. There are no substantive changes to the scope of coverage, limits, exclusions, deductible, or Subscriber obligations in the 2026–2027 Group Policy. It will be available on ALIA's website here.

Subscribers should always review the Group Policy upon its annual release to confirm their obligations.

Remember, under the Group Policy you have an obligation to report Claims and Circumstances as soon as practicable and in any event by June 30. While reporting may feel daunting, ALIA is here to assist and to hopefully ease the stress of discovering a potential issue. For guidance on what to report, when to report, and what to expect after you report, refer to the Demystifying ALIA series.

CHANGES TO SURCHARGE PROTOCOL

As was announced on May 19, 2026, ALIA is working with the LSA on a multi-year program to more effectively deliver the indemnity program through improvements to core business processes (announcement can be viewed here). As a result, ALIA is updating its Surcharge Protocol to simplify the framework and ensure that the costs of claims continue to be allocated fairly.

For Claims or Circumstances reported on or after July 1, 2026, the Surcharge Protocol will no longer include a Free Paid Claim provision. This change applies prospectively. Claims or Circumstances reported before July 1, 2026, may still qualify as a Free Paid Claim until July 1, 2031, in accordance with the updated Surcharge Protocol.

Aside from discontinuing the Free Paid Claim, the Surcharge Protocol remains substantially unchanged.

Full details on changes to the Surcharge Protocol will be posted on the Surcharge Protocol webpage on July 1. If you have any questions about how these changes may affect you, please contact ALIA directly.

UPCOMING CHANGES TO CIVIL LITIGATION FILING LEVY 

As part of its reassessment of business processes, ALIA also reviewed the Civil Litigation Filing Levy and will be announcing improvements to the Civil Litigation Filing Levy program, which are designed to simplify the program for Subscribers, in the fall. Information about the Civil Litigation Filing Levy is available on ALIA's website here. 

ALIA does not provide legal advice. ALIAdvisory newsletters, ALIAlert warnings, ALIAction notices, and the content on ALIA’s website, notices, blogs, correspondence, and any other communications are provided only for the general information of members who participate in the indemnity program and do not constitute legal or other professional advice or an opinion of any kind. This information is not a replacement for specific legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship. If you think you would benefit from legal advice, please contact an Alberta lawyer directly. 

Your policy is the contract that specifically and fully describes your coverage, and nothing stated herein revises or amends the policy. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only; ALIA does not vet or endorse the information contained in linked websites or guarantee its accuracy, timeliness, or fitness for a particular purpose. 

If you have any comments on this ALIAdvisory or any suggestions for future ALIAdvisory articles, please contact ALIA.