CNRIE was founded in 1986 by independent newspaper publishers in Ontario due to skyrocketing insurance costs. At the time, the government of Ontario was promoting the formation of reciprocal insurance exchanges in order to combat those increasing costs. CNRIE's mandate was, and remains, to provide libel and other coverage related to publications at an affordable rate with low deductible options.
Driven by the demand for its service, CNRIE eventually became licensed in most provinces and territories across the country. It also expanded its insurance offering to other types of publications besides newspapers. After significant membership growth in the 1990s, CNRIE began to offer a "pre-clearance" service, in which members could call on the organization's lawyers to review and give advice on material before it was to be published. In more recent years, CNRIE has expanded available coverage to include the web-based versions of its members' hard copy publications.
Today, CNRIE insures over 200 publications across the country.
PRESIDENT - Ross Dickson, Publisher, Ottawa Hill Times
TREASURER - Debbie Sizer, Chief Accountant, Sudbury Northern Life
DIRECTOR - Jeffrey Morris, Publisher, Morris Group
DIRECTOR - John Hueston, Publisher, Aylmer Express
DIRECTOR - Keith Roulston, Publisher, North Huron Citizen/Rural Voice
GENERAL MANAGER - Todd Frees
ACCOUNTANT - Lucia Shepherd
ALBERTA, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES & NUNAVUT
Daniel P. Carroll - Field LLP
2000 Oxford Tower, 10235 - 101 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J-3G1
Tel (780) 423-3003 Fax (780) 428-9329
ATLANTIC PROVINCES
David G. Coles - Boyne Clarke Barristers & Solicitors
33 Alderney Drive, Suite 700, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y-3Z5
Tel (902) 469-9500 Fax (902) 463-7500
BRITISH COLUMBIA & YUKON
David Sutherland - David F. Sutherland & Associates
710 Dunbar Street, Vancouver, BC V6R-3L8
Tel (604) 737-8711 Fax (604) 737-8655
MANITOBA
Bob Sokalski - Hill, Sokalski, Vincent, Walsh, Trippier
2670 - 360 Main St., Winnipeg, MB R3C-3Z3
Tel (204) 943-6470 Fax (204) 943-3934
ONTARIO
Stuart M. Robertson - O'Donnell, Robertson & Sanfilippo
1 Queen St. East, 8th Floor, Box 99, Toronto, ON M5C-2W5
Tel (416) 214-0606 Fax (416) 214-0605
QUÉBEC
Mark Bantey - Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
1 Place Ville Marie, 37th Floor, Montreal, Québec H3B-3P4
Tel (514) 392-9501 Fax (514) 878-1450
SASKATCHEWAN
Bob Sokalski - Hill, Sokalski, Vincent, Walsh, Trippier
2670 - 360 Main St., Winnipeg, MB R3C-3Z3
Tel (204) 943-6470 Fax (204) 943-3934