Topic
Catastrophes
B.C. making “significant” progress on containing two long-burning wildfires
July 31, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterBritish Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is reporting that “significant progress” has been made on containing two wildfires in the province that have been burning for more than a month. BC Wildfire Service crews have taken…
June storm in Ontario tops $30 million in insured damage: IBC
July 30, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reported earlier this week that the insured damage caused by the heavy rains and strong winds that swept southern Ontario on June 22 is estimated at more than $30 million. The figure is based…
Commercial p&c pricing in U.S. continues gradual decline in 2015 Q2
July 30, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe gradual downward trend in rates for commercial property and casualty insurance across all lines in the United States continued in the second quarter of 2015, with decreases consistent with what was seen at the end of 2014 and 2015…
Transport Canada updates rule to help secure rail cars, reduce risk of runaway trains
July 29, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterTransport Canada announced on Wednesday that it has approved revisions to Rule 112 of the Canadian Railway Operating Rules, which establish multiple layers of defence to secure trains and further reduce the risk of runaway trains. The updated rule is…
Saskatchewan academic says ways of handling wildfires must change
July 29, 2015 THE CANADIAN PRESSSASKATOON – An academic says northern communities and the province of Saskatchewan need to rethink the way they prepare for and respond to wildfires. Toddi Steelman is executive director of the school of environment and sustainability at the University of…
Pre-existing defect caused January 2014 pipeline rupture in Manitoba, transportation safety board says
July 28, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterA pre-existing defect led to a January 2014 pipeline rupture in Otterburne, Manitoba, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said in its investigation report into the incident, released on Tuesday. On Jan. 25, 2014, Line 400-1, a 30-inch natural…
Government of British Columbia announces severe drought rating for four areas
July 28, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterThe government of British Columbia announced a Level 4 drought rating on Monday for the South Thompson, Similkameen, Kettle and Skagit areas due to ongoing low stream flows. At Level 4 (Red), conditions are extremely dry. Further declines in stream,…
Manitoba issues heavy rainfall advisory, as much as 100 millimetres of rain expected for southwestern Manitoba and Saskatchewan
July 28, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterManitoba Infrastructure and Transportation’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre issued a heavy rainfall advisory on Monday, noting that a significant rainfall – as much as 100 millimetres of rain – is forecast for parts of southwestern Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the next…
Harper, Wall talk about how to improve wildfires response
July 27, 2015 The Canadian PressREGINA – Premier Brad Wall accompanied Stephen Harper to northern Saskatchewan on Friday to give the prime minister a look at the destruction caused by wildfires. Wall and Harper were in La Ronge, one of the largest communities threatened in…
“In-rack” sprinkler design for warehouses could reduce fire-related costs, the leading cause of commercial property damage, by millions of dollars: FM Global
July 27, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterAlmost three years of research by FM Global has culminated in the release of new fire protection guidelines for warehouse owners that the mutual insurance company reports could reduce fire-related costs by millions of dollars. The new engineering-driven design standard…
Four in 10 survey respondents predict epidemic in next 10 years: World Bank
July 24, 2015 by Canadian UnderwriterGlobal health and epidemics are among the top three concerns of nearly a third of respondents to a recent survey, with nearly one in four respondents suggesting they do not believe the global community is prepared to respond to an…
Taps open, streets flood, when thunderstorm strikes southern Manitoba
July 24, 2015 The Canadian PressFlash flooding caused by a gusher of rain left many homeowners drenched and without electricity when a powerful thunderstorm walloped southern Manitoba. The severe weather Thursday night dumped about 76 millimetres on Portage la Prairie, west of Winnipeg, leaving a…