Canadian Underwriter

Topic
Commercial Lines


Hand in front of a blue backdrop, denying access
News ClaimsCommercial LinesInsurance

Claims denials on their way down, regulator reports

January 23, 2023 by David Gambrill

Claims denial ratios for the stressed business lines of aircraft, liability and marine — which spiked during the pandemic in 2020 — are starting to return to their pre-pandemic levels, according to the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR). “For

Fallen tree damage to the roof of a house
News AdjustersClaimsCommercial LinesConstructionInsuranceRestoration

How adjusters can benefit from putting consumers in control of their claims

January 19, 2023 Jason Contant

When severe weather events take place, not everything can be fixed overnight. There are only so many contractors and thousands of homes will likely need repairs ranging from major to minor. “It comes down to triaging and putting the insured

An explosion at a propane company in Quebec
News ClaimsCommercial LinesInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Police continue to probe fatal blast at Quebec propane company

January 18, 2023 Morgan Lowrie - THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL – The investigation into the causes of a fatal blast at a propane company north of Montreal could be long and complex, police said Tuesday after three bodies were found at the site. Officials are dealing with a “vast”

Power lines in Ottawa knocked out by the May 22 derecho storm
News BrokersClaimsClimate ChangeCommercial LinesInsuranceRisk

Where 2022 tallies for insured damages in Canada

January 18, 2023 Canadian Underwriter Staff

Severe weather events in 2022 gave Canada its third worst year for insured damage in the country’s history. Insured damage for severe weather events across Canada hit $3.1 billion last year, the third-highest total of NatCat losses in the nation’s

College students in a classroom.
News BrokersCommercial LinesConstructionInsuranceLegislation / RegulationProfessional Development

Can a new college program draw talent to commercial brokerages?

January 18, 2023 Alyssa DiSabatino

The specialized nature of commercial brokering is causing a talent shortage now that veterans are retiring in droves. “I literally get three or four different companies a week that ask for talent, and it’s amplified across the industry,” said John

Lower shot of a businessman in a white button up shirt and red tie stopping a set of wooden dominoes with his hand
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsCommercial LinesInsuranceRisk

What are Canada’s major business risks for 2023?

January 17, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Cyber incidents are the new top business concern for Canadian companies in 2023, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2023.   The top three risks in Canada are cyber incidents (35%), the skilled workforce shortage (33%) and climate change (29%),

man wearing a white hardhat and yellow safety vest is onlooking a large blue shipping container on a truck
News BrokersClaimsCommercial LinesInsuranceRisk

How much cargo theft rose in 2022

January 16, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Cargo theft across Canada and the U.S. rose by 15% in 2022 from the previous year, equal to 1778 recorded theft incidents, a cargo theft recording firm reports. And cargo insurers should be aware of an emerging threat: fictitious cargo

Lighthouse in a hurricane
News CatastrophesClaimsCommercial LinesConstructionInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesReinsurance

What’s driving reinsurer underwriting margins in 2023?

January 16, 2023 Philip Porado

Underwriting margins for reinsurers will likely grow by an average four percentage points during 2023, said a new report from Fitch Ratings. Key factors for the increases are significant price rises, tighter terms and conditions, as well as the withdrawal

Sealing the M&A deal with a handshake
News AnnouncementsAppointmentsBrokersCommercial LinesInsuranceMarkets / CoveragesMergers and AqcuisitionsProfessional Development

Industry veteran joins Westland following acquisition

January 13, 2023 by Jason Contant

Industry veteran Doug Morrow has joined Westland Insurance as its new vice president of commercial insurance for Alberta, the brokerage announced earlier this week. Most recently president and CEO of Excel Insurance Group, Morrow joined Westland as vice president, commercial

Figurines of six businesspeople examining a concrete globe
News BrokersCatastrophesClimate ChangeCommercial LinesInsuranceRisk

Which risks will trouble the globe in 2023?

January 13, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

The cost-of-living crisis poses the biggest worldwide risk in 2023, according to findings in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023.  Two years from now, experts expect the cost of living will still be the number one risk on

Provincial flag of Alberta
News BrokersCommercial LinesConstructionInsuranceLegislation / RegulationMarkets / CoveragesRisk

How an Alberta election may impact decisions on captive insurance

January 12, 2023 Philip Porado

Companies looking at the benefits of setting up an Alberta captive insurance company appear to be taking a ‘wait-and-see approach’ with respect to tax treatment. At the moment, the province’s tax authorities have indicated captives will be treated the same

Financial results graph in blue
News AnnouncementsBrokersCatastrophesClaimsClimate ChangeCommercial LinesInsurance

Intact reveals fourth quarter catastrophe loss estimate

January 12, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Intact’s Canadian segment experienced an estimated $77 million, pre-tax, in catastrophe losses during the last quarter of 2022, the company said in a report. That figure is below the previous year’s fourth quarter losses.  The Canadian cat losses were mostly