Short answer
Workers’ compensation through each public board, auto liability everywhere, and the limits and certificates your landlords, clients, lenders and regulators require.
Public boards
Workers’ compensation
Run by a public board in each province and territory, not private insurers. Registration is mandatory for most employers, with board-specific deadlines.
10calendar days after the first hire: Ontario’s WSIB registration deadline, for example.
Non-resident employers with local workers are generally caught. Exempt industries vary by board.
Compulsory everywhere
Auto liability
In BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba basic cover comes from the public insurer; Quebec splits it between the SAAQ and private insurers.
✕A global auto program will not satisfy local requirements.
Contracts and licensing
Required limits and certificates
Landlords, clients, lenders and some professional regulators will require specific limits (often CGL, property, E&O) and certificates naming them.