Canadian Underwriter

Features


Philip Cook CEO of Omega Insurance Holdings Inc.
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Last to Receive

March 1, 2005 Philip Cook

In an industry focused on risk management techniques for insureds, it is ironic that we spend so little time “managing” the risks confronting our own industry. In the fable of the “shoemaker’s children” it is always the children of the shoemaker who are the last to receive shoes. Similarly, our industry spends considerable time and effort assisting customers with their risk management problems, while the same effective techniques are often missing from our own internal planning process.

Craig A. Rowe, president, Canadian Risk Intervention Inc.
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Risk Management Best Interests

March 1, 2005 Craig A. Rowe

One of the first pieces of advice I give to insurance buyers is “sell your risk to insurers… don’t let them sell you insurance!” Risk managers have realized for a long time who is the seller and who is the buyer in the insured/insurer relationship, and now, more insureds are “getting it”.

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Risky Business

March 1, 2005 Patrick Doig

A look ahead at global political risk in 2005, and how businesses can manage it.

Andreas Wagner, director of environmental health & safety
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Preventing Mold Losses

March 1, 2005 Andreas Wagner, and Tom Park

Recent scientific and legal developments have started to push mold damage in buildings up on the agendas of many insurance companies.

From left, OIAA guest speakers Lee Samis and Neil Colville-Reeves.
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OIAA Claims 2005: Privacy in Review

March 1, 2005 Vikki Spencer

The introduction of federal privacy legislation to the insurance industry one year ago had the potential to clarify boundaries in handling customer information. But in reality, privacy rules have blurred many lines and thrown long-standing industry practices into question, say speakers at the OIAA Claims 2005 conference.

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CIAA/CICMA Joint Conference: Legal Patchwork

March 1, 2005 Vikki Spencer

Legal reform topped the agenda at this year’s CIAA/CICMA Joint Conference in Toronto recently, as a panel of legal professionals detailed the government efforts and court decisions shaping the future of insurance litigation across Canada.

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Taking a Closer Look

March 1, 2005 Terry Neilson

While many insurance companies talk of risk assessment and underwriting, few have taken advantage of technology solutions to integrate loss inspection reports into their workflow.

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DUTY to DEFEND

March 1, 2005 Will O'Hara of Gardiner Roberts L.L.P.

It is rare to have members of the Ontario Court of Appeal attend insurance industry conventions to talk about proper procedures to follow when dealing with claims. In fact, it may never happen. But the next best thing to a personal attendance by a judge is a decision aimed at members of the industry, as well as insurance counsel and opposing counsel. Such a decision lies in the findings of Halifax Insurance Co. of Canada vs. Innopex, which takes aim at the duty to defend and the procedure for determining when the duty to defend arises.

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Warranty Insurance: Keeping Vendors Honest

March 1, 2005 John Hicks of LWG Consulting

It is common for equipment manufacturers and service providers to put clauses in customer contracts that exclude breakdown from incidents involving water, fire, mishandling, etc. These types of losses are usually covered by a property insurance policy. Since most of the vendors are aware of this fact they use this to advantage in an attempt to profit from an insured’s loss.

Mark Yakabuski and PCUC president Peter Morris
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Industry Prepares for Release of 2004 Yearend Results

February 1, 2005 by Canadian Underwriter

The insurance industry is already preparing to better handle the release of 2004 yearend financial results and the incumbent media attention they will garner, says Mark Yakabuski, vice president of federal affairs and Ontario region for the Insurance Bureau of

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Cat Losses Not Deterring Reinsurance Market Slide: Benfield

February 1, 2005 by Canadian Underwriter

Despite a record level of catastrophe losses in 2004, reinsurers appear to be giving in somewhat to soft market pressures, according to a review of 2004/2005 renewals by broker Benfield. The report says that the most recent renewals saw increasing

PHOTOGRAPH: SUNCOR ENERGYA coker tower at Suncor's oil sands facility.
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Suncor Shutdown Expected to Net Significant Insurance Bill

February 1, 2005 by Canadian Underwriter

The shutdown of Calgary, Alberta-based Suncor Energy Inc. following a fire in early January, could produce a significant insurance bill as the company announces it will not be back to full production until the third quarter of 2005. Suncor is