Why brokers should bring surety into their clients’ boardrooms

In today’s risk-heavy economy, confidence is currency. And surety is helping deliver it. That’s why commercial brokers should bring the surety conversation into their clients’ boardrooms early, says Michael Sloniowski, Senior Vice-president and Head of Surety at Aviva Canada.

“As trusted advisors, brokers have the opportunity to reaffirm the critical role of surety in uncertain times,” says Sloniowski. And now they can back that up with data.

The 2025 Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) report puts hard numbers behind what Sloniowski and his team have long understood: surety bonds protect GDP, jobs, and taxpayer dollars. Particularly in a volatile economy, every $1 million in premiums safeguards over $27 million in GDP and over 200 full-time jobs. Construction firms without bonds are 10 times more likely to go insolvent.

“Most public projects already require bonds,” says Sloniowski. “But the data underscores the broader economic and social value of surety, especially now.”

From risk response to prevention

Surety has always played a role in construction and infrastructure, but today’s market amplifies its importance, Sloniowski explains. “Post-COVID economic turbulence — that’s been marked by inflation, supply chain disruption, and rising interest rates — has pushed many contractors into tighter margins and increased financial stress. As surety partners, we’re not just assessing their financials. We’re looking at how companies operate, how they plan to grow, and what risks they face. We bring insights from across trades and sectors to help brokers and clients make more informed decisions about the work they pursue and how they pursue it.”

He sees Aviva’s role as that of a strategic advisor alongside brokers. “Whether it’s navigating a dispute, advising on scope-of-work considerations, or flagging emerging risks, surety is becoming part of the proactive risk conversation, not just the backstop. When surety is involved early, we can reset relationships, identify financial friction points, and minimize the chance of insolvency.”

Local knowledge, national expertise

Brokers trust Aviva not just for its capacity, but for its commitment to collaborative relationships, deep market insights, and local expertise.

“Our solutions are made in Canada, by Canadians, for Canadians,” says Sloniowski. “That localized knowledge, from Halifax to Vancouver, is something we’re proud to bring to brokers and clients.”

Aviva offers a full spectrum of surety solutions, including contract surety for general, heavy civil, and specialty trades; commercial and transactional bonds, such as reclamation, permit, and customs bonds; and a growing footprint in developer surety, especially in the real estate and infrastructure sectors.

Every solution is backed by an experienced underwriting team with national reach and sector-specific expertise. “Our underwriters are known for being transparent and responsive, sharing peer benchmarks and strategic insights, and flexible bonding approaches that evolve as clients grow,” says Sloniowski. “We have clients who started with us 40 or 50 years ago as small operations and are now leading large-scale projects. We’ve been there with them the whole way.”

The broker’s advantage

For brokers with the right partner by their side, surety is a chance to deliver measurable value, especially as infrastructure investment and economic pressures converge.

“Successful contractors aren’t just builders. They’re experienced business leaders driving economic growth. What they need is insight and support to grow sustainably and navigate risk,” Sloniowski says.

That’s where brokers play a vital role in educating clients on surety’s strategic value.

“These conversations can highlight financial discipline and operational oversight, and where government spending is likely headed,” he says. “Don’t wait until a bond is required; start the conversation at the strategic-planning stage. That’s where a surety partnership delivers the most value.”

Looking ahead, Sloniowski points to the economy itself as both the biggest wild card and call to action. “Whether it’s tariffs, interest rates, or infrastructure funding, surety helps your clients prepare for what’s next,” he says. “And we’re ready to help brokers support them.”