Canadian Underwriter

Topic
Catastrophes


Damaged property from recent wildfires is shown in Drayton Valley, Alta.
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsurance

Losses adjusters don’t want to see from Alberta wildfires

May 24, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

With wildfires raging on across Alberta and the west, adjusters are hoping the fires stay remote and spare populous areas from catastrophic losses. “We are seeing some claims and anticipate seeing many more as dangerous conditions persist,” Patricia (P.J.) Davis,

A structure destroyed by a wildfire in Drayton Valley, Alta.
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Rain could slow down record-breaking Alberta wildfires, officials say

May 23, 2023 Rob Drinkwater - THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON – Light rainfall and cooler temperatures slowed down wildfire activity in Alberta over the long weekend and more rain that’s in the forecast may help firefighters catch a breath during a record-breaking season of fires. “This could be a

Disabled woman with bandaged arm signing document
News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceLegal

‘Minor injuries’ don’t exist if they fall outside the Minor Injury Guideline

May 17, 2023 by David Gambrill

An auto injury falling outside of Ontario’s $3,500 Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) cap is no longer a ‘minor injury’ for the purpose of imposing funding limits on certain medical goods and services, Ontario License Appeal Tribunal (LAT) has ruled. “There

The Fraser Valley in B.C. after flooding on Nov. 21, 2021
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsurance

Flood warning for part of northwest B.C., other rivers rising as heat grips province

May 17, 2023 The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — A flood watch covered the Skeena region of northwestern British Columbia Tuesday as unseasonably warm temperatures swelled rivers in many areas of the province. B.C.’s River Forecast Centre posted the warning for the Skeena and Bulkley rivers and

Eco-friendly building in a modern city
News CatastrophesClimate ChangeConstructionEngineeringInsurance

Private investment needed to ramp up climate adaptation in infrastructure: report

May 16, 2023 The Canadian Press

A new report by the Canadian Climate Institute says private capital is needed to invest in climate adaptation infrastructure as extreme weather events like fires and floods become more acute by the year. The report co-authored by insurance firm The

A closeup of a seismograph machine needle drawing a red line on graph paper depicting seismic and earthquake activity - 3D render
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsInsuranceRisk

National disaster report highlights industry loss potential

May 12, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

A major earthquake in British Columbia or the Ontario-Quebec region could become the costliest natural disasters Canada has seen, a new government of Canada report warns.  Of pertinence to the industry, as insured damages for a severe earthquake could broach

Adjuster filling out a car accident assessment form
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsCommercial LinesConstructionInsurance

Growth? Maybe. Why carriers aren’t promising a soft market yet

May 11, 2023 Alyssa DiSabatino

Beyond the obvious threats of inflation and a possible economic downturn later in 2023, a confluence of other issues is triggering duress for brokers and insurers, which has carriers cautioning the hard market isn’t over yet. Taken together, these factors

Police block the road into the wildfires near Entwhistle Alberta on Sunday May 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsuranceRisk

What claims may come from the Alberta wildfires

May 8, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

While it’s too early to estimate losses, Canada’s P&C industry is anticipating incoming property damage claims due to Alberta wildfires and insurers may have already begun to see claims from non-physical aspects of the policies, experts tell Canadian Underwriter. As

Teamwork of businesspeople work together and combine pieces of gears. Partnership and integration concept
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsCommercial LinesInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMGAsRisk

Why MGAs are here to stay

May 2, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Hard markets have historically offered a tremendous opportunity for growth for managing general agents (MGAs), but industry experts say they will be here to stay even when the market softens.  Unlike primary insurers, MGAs provide capacity in specialized areas of

A burnt out neighbourhood following the Fort McMurray, wildfire.
News CatastrophesClimate ChangeCommercial LinesInsuranceProductsRiskTechnology

How many Canadian properties are at high risk of wildfire?

May 2, 2023 by Jason Contant

Approximately 300,000 properties across Canada are at a high wildfire risk, with another million carrying a minor risk of being impacted by wildfires during the typical mortgage term, according to Vancouver-based software and data analytics company Minerva Intelligence Inc. Minerva

World map representing global trade
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsInsuranceRisk

Is political risk the next NatCat?

May 1, 2023 Philip Porado

Much like NatCat events, political risk losses tend to be low frequency but high severity, said a new Oxford Analytica survey, produced for WTW, on how global businesses are managing current political risks. “Political risk losses occur rarely but tend

A dike breach in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que.
News AdjustersCatastrophesClaimsInsuranceLegalMarkets / CoveragesRestoration

Residents of Quebec town still struggle with aftermath of 2019 flooding

May 1, 2023 Morgan Lowrie - THE CANADIAN PRESS

SAINTE-MARTHE-SUR-LE-LAC, Que. – Sylvie Bechard had only owned her little brick house for six months when her neighbour came banging on her door on the night of April 27, 2019. The dike holding back the Lake of Two Mountains had