Extends exclusive group insurance coverage to CFIB members across Canada

TORONTO - Sun Life Financial announced it has extended its agreement with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to offer group insurance coverage to its members nationally. The plan will be available exclusively to all CFIB members regardless of size. Sun Life Financial first announced the agreement in November when the plan was offered to CFIB members in Atlantic Canada.

"We are pleased that all CFIB members across the country can now take advantage of this unique and affordable group insurance plan. We designed this plan with the small business owner in mind and it offers a range of options to meet a firm's needs regardless of size," said Stuart Monteith, Senior Vice-President, Group Benefits, Sun Life Financial. "People who are self-employed can also join a plan, giving them access to the type of group coverage that typically has only been available to larger firms." "For CFIB, this is about helping our members with their bottom line, especially during this difficult economy," said Catherine Swift, President and CEO, CFIB. "It's also about providing our members with another tool to help them find and keep good people. We believe this new program will make group benefits affordable to small business owners who want coverage for their employees but couldn't offer it for one reason or another."

The coverage provides:

- A flexible and comprehensive product offering from one of Canada's largest employee benefits providers

- Industry leading service offerings including online employer and employee tools

- Broad access to competitively priced benefits for CFIB members

"The response we received from our initial launch has exceeded the expectations of both Sun Life and CFIB," said Swift. "This is largely due to a dedicated network of selected independent advisors across the country who are locally involved within their communities."

"CFIB's group benefits plan was a great fit for our business," said Warren Doiron, owner of New Homes Plus in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. "It's worth a phone call to see if it will work for yours."