Canadian Underwriter

Topic
Catastrophes


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News BrokersCatastrophesCommercial LinesInsuranceReinsurance

What do January reinsurance renewals have in store for property insurers?

December 5, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

With January’s reinsurance renewal period quickly approaching, the impact of major cat events on property insurers remains to be seen, said a new report from Navacord brokerage Lloyd Sadd.  Catastrophic losses are making leading property insurers selective about the amount

Storm damaged house
News AdjustersBrokersCatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaClimate ChangeEngineeringInsuranceRestoration

What makes the current claims environment so challenging?

December 2, 2022 Philip Porado

A convergence of global factors will cause above-average levels of claims inflation for the foreseeable future. Claims professionals who spoke with Canadian Underwriter said multiple market-dependent factors – including prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns in China, political instability, labour and materials shortages,

A lake in the shape of the world's continents in the middle of untouched nature.
News CatastrophesClimate ChangeInsuranceRisk

How the P&C industry responded to Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy

November 24, 2022 by David Gambrill

Canada announced today a total of $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help communities adapt to climate change by building infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters. The investment is part of the federal government’s new National Adaptation Strategy: Building

Hurricane Ian
News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsurance

What reinsurance renewals could look like on Jan. 1

November 23, 2022 by David Gambrill

Global reinsurers are expected to raise property catastrophe rates “by well over 10%” in exposed areas during January 2023 renewals, a Fitch Ratings report stated. “We expect double-digit percentage premium rate rises for property catastrophe cover in 2023 driven by

A giant fireball is seen as a wild fire rips through the forest 16 km south of Fort McMurray, Alberta on highway 63 on May 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceProductsRiskTechnology

Why insurers should invest in genetically modified trees

November 22, 2022 by David Gambrill

Insurance companies should consider investing in genetically-modified, slow-burning trees to mitigate wildfire damage, according to a first-prize pitch at the WinterHack 2022: Design Thinking Ideathon. “We will be taking advantage of state-of-the-art biotechnology and building upon it to create a

Coastal flooding remains a concern for eastern Canada
News CatastrophesClimate ChangeRisk

Climate Changed: Rising oceans, storm surges ‘disaster in slow motion’ for coasts

November 22, 2022 Hina Alam - THE CANADIAN PRESS

Tides are rising, sands are shifting and coastlines are crumbling. As studies warn of rising seas and accelerated erosion resulting from climate change, coastal communities in Canada are wondering what the future holds. “Living on the coast is part of

sea coast houses bracing for a hurricane
News AdjustersBrokersCatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaClimate ChangeConstructionInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsuranceRestorationRisk

How hurricane losses will impact pricing and capacity

November 21, 2022 Philip Porado

Watch for Hurricane Ian’s damage estimates of between US$50 billion and US$70 billion to made insurers more conservative about pricing and capacity, according to Aon’s global market insights for 2022 Q3. “As the full market impacts of Hurricane Ian materialize,”

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News BrokersCatastrophesClimate ChangeCommercial LinesConstructionInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMGAsReinsurance

Covering larger risks? Why subscriptions may be the way of the future

November 18, 2022 Philip Porado

As claims from Cat events and other external risks get larger, the simplest solution to cobbling together coverage might be a subscription approach that spreads risk and reduces individual insurers’ losses. “Subscribing the risk is better for the industry,” George

Businessperson holding a pen on an interactive bar graph, showing upwardly trending results year over year
News AnnouncementsBrokersCatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Why the hard market may be here to stay

November 15, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Despite 17 quarters of rate increases, insurers return on equity (ROE) is still below target, and these hard market conditions may not be going anywhere for awhile, a Gallagher executive said during an industry webinar.  Broker’s clients may be able

Three firefighters battling a house blaze
News CatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Indigenous Services Canada failing First Nations in response to wildfires, floods: AG

November 15, 2022 Stephanie Taylor - THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – The federal government still hasn’t provided First Nations with the support they need to respond to emergencies such as wildfires and floods despite warnings almost a decade ago, says a new report from Canada’s auditor general. Karen Hogan

Concept of positive and negative
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsurance

Has Canada’s P&C hard market finally stabilized?

November 14, 2022 by Jason Contant

Canada’s P&C insurance market remains vibrant but unpredictable, although there are signs of stabilization, a Gallagher executive said during an industry webinar Monday. A variety of push-and-pull factors related to underwriting profits, reinsurance rates, interest rates and claims inflation, labour

Sandbag beach reinforcements, which had previously been covered with sand, lie exposed following the passage of Hurricane Nicole, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Vero Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
News AnnouncementsCatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeInsuranceRisk

Nicole to be typical fall storm, but officials warn of outages where Fiona hit hard

November 11, 2022 The Canadian Press

HALIFAX – Environment Canada says the Category 1 hurricane that hit Florida early this morning will feel like a typical fall storm when the weather system makes its way to the East Coast this weekend. But officials are warning to