Condo insurance protects the units within a condo building. You would get it to protect your contents such as appliances, clothing, and furniture (and would also cover items stored in a locker). 

It would also provide additional living expenses in the event of an insured loss (if you had to temporarily move out) as well as the condo owner's liability for any bodily injury or property damage that was unintentionally caused by others in the building.

No, condo, home, or tenant insurance is not mandatory in Canada, although the condo association, or the owner of the condo, may require you to have to move in. You also need insurance to secure a mortgage to purchase a home or condo. So, even though it is not legally required to have, there are other outlets that may require the homeowner to purchase it.

If you own a condo or rent a house or apartment, some landlords may require tenants to have tenant insurance before moving in and condo corporations and lenders may require condo unit owners to show proof of insurance before moving in as well.

You do not want to get stuck with condo insurance that provides unclear provisions on what is covered and what is not. Your condo insurance should provide coverage for:

• The contents in your condo- All contents inside the condo including but not limited to electronics, furniture and clothing are protected against perils such as theft, fire, explosions and water damage caused by overflows and bursting pipes, up to the insured amount. Contents such as fur and jewelery will often have specific limits of coverage that can be increased for an additional premium. Also, be keen on other exclusions such as computers, cameras and recording equipment, especially for people who work from home. 
• Personal liability- Personal liability provides coverage for bodily injury to other parties such as visitors and neighbours. For instance, your visitor may trip over a rug and sustain injuries. Your bathtub may overflow and cause water damage to the apartment below, inflicting damage worth tens of thousands. This insurance will provide coverage for such unpleasant occurrences. 
• Walls and floors- The condo owner is responsible for insuring their specific condo unit, including fixtures, floors, walls, ceilings and appliances.

The common property of a condominium are areas that are available for all unit owners to use. Some examples include areas such as the lobby, elevators, outdoor gardens, swimming pools, fitness centre, and other recreational facilities. Every condominium has different amenities available, and different condo fee prices for the unit owners. Condo unit owners share the expense of maintaining common areas by paying monthly maintenance, or condo fees.

Condo building insurance is different. This is purchased by the condo corporation to cover damage to the building and the common areas and liability on the property. This is usually included in the monthly condo maintenance fees.