Clare Ogilvie, The Province

He wasn't allowed to work in insurance, mortgage industries

WHISTLER - A Surrey man who is simultaneously running for mayor of Whistler and for council in his hometown was at one time barred from working as an insurance agent for being untrustworthy.

An Insurance Council of B.C. decision from July 2002 says Jagmohan Bhandari "failed to act in a trustworthy and competent manner, in good faith and in accordance with the usual practice of the business of insurance."

The comments stem from an investigation of Bhandari by the council into activities he performed after switching employment from American Income Life Insurance to London Life Insurance.

"He misstated the applicant's existing insurance on the insurance application, he improperly advised three clients to cancel insurance prior to replacing, and that is a very serious one because . . . you never have someone cancel an existing policy until a new one is in effect," said Gerald Matier, executive director of the council. "If it turns out that there is a medical issue that comes up, they could find themselves . . . uninsured.