Issue link: http://clhia.uberflip.com/i/396043
Investments of Life and Health Insurance Providers The savings of Canadians through life and health insurers are channelled into productive investments, and the earnings from these investments help keep down the cost of life and health insurance and guarantee future benefits for policyholders and beneficiaries. The accumulated savings, supporting long- term liabilities, also provide a source of stable capital for Canada's economic growth. Life and health insurance providers invest their assets in all regions of the country, wherever there are opportunities for capital investment. At the end of 2013, an estimated $117.7 billion of life and health insurers' investments were attributed to Quebec, reflecting the excellent investment opportunities in the province. Of these investments, $109.5 billion came from the funds held on behalf of Canadian policyholders. The remainder, $8.2 billion, was invested on behalf of foreign policyholders by companies of the United States registered to do business in Canada, as well as Canadian companies doing business outside Canada. The types of life and health insurers' investments in Quebec and Canada at the end of 2013 were: Quebec Canada $millions % $millions % Corporate securities* 32,979 28.0 204,634 35.3 Mutual funds* 29,659 25.2 144,073 24.8 Mortgages and real estate 14,076 12.0 82,231 14.2 Provincial bonds 24,534 20.8 71,038 12.3 Municipal bonds 3,498 3.0 18,215 3.1 Federal bonds* 5,803 4.9 27,407 4.7 Other* 7,160 6.1 32,651 5.6 Total 117,709 100% 580,249 100% *Part or all of these amounts has been attributed to Quebec by appropriate formulas. The industry's investments often support longer-term capital investments, including infrastructure investments, which are critical to creating economic growth. The industry is one of the largest investors in a variety of key asset classes. The investments of life and health insurance providers in federal, provincial and municipal bonds help governments provide essential services such as schools, roads and sanitation systems.