What's the difference between a named perils and an all risks policy when a claim is denied in Ontario?

A named perils policy only covers losses caused by the specific risks it lists - fire, theft, and windstorm, for example - so if your loss was caused by something not on that list, it generally isn't covered regardless of how it happened. An all risks (sometimes called "broad form") policy flips that structure: it covers loss from any cause except those the policy specifically excludes, generally offering broader protection, though still subject to whatever exclusions the insurer wrote in.

This distinction matters directly in a coverage dispute. Under a named perils policy, you bear the burden of showing your loss fits within one of the listed causes. Under an all risks policy, you generally only need to show a loss occurred, and the insurer then bears the burden of proving a specific exclusion applies to take it back out of coverage - a meaningfully different starting position for you as the claimant. If your claim has been denied, the first thing worth confirming is which type of policy you actually have, since it changes who has to prove what, and often points directly at where the real dispute lies.