The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) has suspended the life insurance and accident and sickness benefits insurance agent license of Reditha Abila Castillejos after she failed to cooperate with a regulatory examination and did not provide requested information.
FSRA said Castillejos failed to facilitate an examination by the regulator and did not provide information when asked, in violation of Ontario's Insurance Act. The suspension order was issued after Castillejos did not request a hearing before the Financial Services Tribunal or contest FSRA's proposal, allowing the action ot proceed unopposed.
The regulator has broad powers to conduct examinations and require regulated persons to produce records and information relevant to its oversight of the insurance sector.
For example, Section 442.3(3) requires agents to respond to information requests. Failing to cooperate with these processes is itself a breach of the Act, regardless of whether any underlying misconduct is ultimately established.
In this case, FSRA’s notice indicated that the suspension stems from non-cooperation: the agent did not facilitate the examination and did not provide the requested information. From a regulatory standpoint, that behavior undermines FSRA’s ability to supervise market conduct and assess compliance, particularly in consumer-facing lines such as life and accident and sickness insurance.
The action underscores that responsiveness to regulatory examinations and information requests is a core licensing obligation, not a procedural formality. FSRA has repeatedly signaled that failure to cooperate can, on its own, justify enforcement action, including suspension or revocation of a license, restrictions on business activity, or conditions on future licensing.
For managing general agencies and insurers, the decision highlights the need to monitor the licensing and regulatory status of contracted agents. A suspended agent cannot lawfully carry on the activities of a life or accident and sickness insurance agent in Ontario; any ongoing sales or servicing activity by that individual could expose principals to supervisory and reputational risk.
The fact that Castillejos did not seek a hearing before the Financial Services Tribunal also reflects FSRA’s current enforcement posture -- where a licensee does not engage with a proposal to take action, the regulator is prepared to move directly to final orders.
That places a premium on agents and their compliance advisers responding promptly and substantively to FSRA correspondence, both at the examination stage and if a formal notice of proposal is issued.
