Canadian Underwriter

Topic
Catastrophes

Burnt trees in Saprae Creek near Fort McMurray following 2016 wildfire.
News AssociationsCatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesRestoration

Is Fort McMurray still insurable?

April 26, 2024 by Jason Contant

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire cost nearly $6 billion in insured damage, citing 2016 loss totals for that year from Insurance Bureau of Canada. However, the $6 billion total

cracked road concrete close up
News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsuranceRisk

Insurers to discuss ‘Plan B’ for federal earthquake insurance backstop

April 23, 2024 by David Gambrill

Canada’s property and casualty insurers are starting to discuss a ‘Plan B’ for an earthquake backstop, given the federal government’s slow progress on establishing a national flood insurance program. Insurance Bureau of Canada president and CEO Celyeste Power talked about

Houses with solar panels
News CatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsuranceRiskTechnology

Are underwriters pricing for new tech in homes?

April 22, 2024 by David Gambrill

Globally, the property and casualty insurance industry may be underestimating the vulnerability of property that uses technology to adapt to climate change, a speaker told attendees at the 38th Swiss Re Outlook breakfast held in Toronto last Tuesday. Also, property

Spot fires flaring up along highways leading into Hay River, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsuranceRisk

Flood and fire preparedness measures underway in N.W.T. town

April 22, 2024 The Canadian Press

The Town of Hay River has been through a lot over the last couple of years, having first contended with serious flooding in 2022 and then devastating wildfires in 2023.  With the memories of those crises still fresh in the

Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba
News CatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsurance

Why ICLR is heading West

April 19, 2024 Philip Porado

As part of a partnership with Wawanesa Insurance, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) will set up a new ICLR Climate Resilience Centre in Winnipeg. Wawanesa is providing office space and operating funds for the new centre. The centre

Fishing Storage Buildings on the Atlantic Coast
News CatastrophesClimate ChangeInsurance

Feds commit $15 million to flood insurance backstop. Is it enough?

April 18, 2024 by David Gambrill

Although the federal government committed to forge ahead with its long-awaited flood insurance backstop Tuesday, Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry notes the 2024 federal budget was light on details – and funding. The insurance industry has been negotiating with

A wildfire in Enterprise, NWT
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsuranceRestoration

Wildfire clean-up continues in Enterprise, NWT

April 17, 2024 Tom Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, NWT News/North – The Canadian Press

Enterprise’s 2024 spring carnival was a sorely needed opportunity for celebration in a community that has been through more than most over the last few months. “It was just great fun,” said Sandra McMaster, who became the community’s new mayor

Firefighters battling wildfire in Tantallon, N.S.
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsurance

Before likely ‘ferocious’ wildfire season, fire chiefs worry about drop in volunteers

April 12, 2024 Lyndsay Armstrong – The Canadian Press

As Canada looks ahead to what experts fear could be another devastating wildfire season, fire chiefs say they are worried about the dwindling number of volunteers available to combat the rising threat. Ken McMullen, president of the Canadian Association of

A fire burning across the lake in Osoyoos, B.C.
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsurance

Drought, heat raise risk of repeat of last summer’s record-breaking wildfires

April 10, 2024 The Canadian Press

Persistent drought and months of above-average temperatures have raised the risk of a repeat of last year’s record-breaking wildfires. Federal officials say conditions are already ripe for an early and above-normal fire risk from Quebec all the way to British

Concept of carbon credits and net-zero emissions
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaClimate ChangeInsuranceMGAsProducts

Why this MGA is betting on carbon insurance

April 9, 2024 by Jason Contant

Specialist insurance provider CFC has entered the voluntary carbon market (VCM) with the launch of a carbon delivery insurance product that safeguards the purchase of carbon credits. VCMs are decentralized markets in which individuals or organizations buy credits to voluntarily

Storm coming in
News CatastrophesClaimsInsurance

Hurricane season’s on the horizon — are we ready?

April 9, 2024 Philip Porado

It won’t be long before June arrives, bringing with it the 2024 hurricane season. That might be a problem for Canada’s adjusters and insurers given many are still managing residual claims from Hurricane Fiona’s 2022 battering of the East coast.

Harvested wheat field in Saskatchewan
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaClimate ChangeInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Why climate change on the farm equates to a big bill

April 8, 2024 Amanda Stephenson – The Canadian Press

To get an idea of the financial toll extreme weather is taking on this country’s agriculture industry, look no further than the government of Saskatchewan’s books.  The prairie province had forecast a more than $1 billion surplus for the fiscal