Topic
Legislation / Regulation
How these auto reforms could reduce liability exposure for hospitality clients
May 10, 2021 by David GambrillB.C.’s move towards a form of no-fault auto insurance could wind up reducing liability exposure for commercial insureds in the hospitality and other high-risk sectors, according to a recent blog by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. The province’s no-fault amendments came…
Where Canadians rank among their global peers in how much premium they pay
May 8, 2021 by David GambrillCanadians tend to pay higher premium for insurance than citizens in many, if not most, other developed nations, according to a recent report from the C.D. Howe Institute. Three years in the making, the report is authored by Alister Campbell,…
Insurance certificate fraud costs ex-broker $26K
May 5, 2021 by David GambrillAlberta’s broker regulator has issued a civil penalty of $26,000 against a former broker found to have issued false insurance certificates to clients as “placeholders” until coverage was bound — which it never was. The penalty was based on 52…
Why insurers like Ontario’s plans to restrict tow trucks
April 29, 2021 by Greg MeckbachOntario tow truck operators will be prohibited from stopping within 200 metres of motor vehicle accidents unless they are specifically asked to do so by people involved in the collision. This is what will happen if Bill 282, the Moving…
Why IBAC foresees a national flood insurance program
April 28, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe recently-released federal budget gives brokers reason to be optimistic that Canada will eventually have a national flood insurance program for homeowners, the head of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada suggests. “The commitment from the federal government is clear…
Ontario judge urges legislature to deal with insurance fraud
April 22, 2021 by David GambrillAn Ontario judge has taken the rare approach in a sentencing decision to urge the provincial government to take steps to prevent future instances of insurance fraud. Ontario Court Justice David S. Rose made the obitur remarks in his written…
Why insurance overseer won’t regulate MGAs or fintechs just yet
April 22, 2021 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s insurance regulator has no plans to regulate fintechs or managing general agents in the near term. “We sort of feel like we have enough on our plates,” said Tim Bzowey, executive vice president of auto/insurance products for the Financial…
Why B.C.’s tax collector tried to burn Mutual Fire for an extra $4.5 million
April 9, 2021 by Greg MeckbachBritish Columbia’s income tax commissioner must re-visit a decision to bill Mutual Fire Insurance Company of British Columbia an extra $4.5 million in premium taxes and interest from the 2012 and 2013 taxation years. Mutual Fire appealed the ruling by…
Etiquette for asking if your employees are vaccinated
April 9, 2021 by Greg MeckbachAsking your workers whether or not they got their COVID-19 vaccine shot is not necessarily a good idea. “If you are going to require employees to disclose their vaccination status, you need to consider the nature of the workplace,” said…
Ontario budget highlights property flood risk
March 25, 2021 by Greg MeckbachInsurers are applauding the Ontario government for its commitment to improve flood mapping and to provide more money for municipal water infrastructure, measures that the industry hopes will reduce the risk of water damage to insured properties. In a press…
What to tell clients when home insurer asks if property was previously a grow-op
March 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHome insurance clients who move to a new property should have the premises inspected and let the insurer know if there are signs it has been used to grow cannabis. “If a home was a former cannabis grow-op, likely pipes…
Economical sets date for final policyholder vote on demutualization
March 17, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA key step in Economical Insurance’s demutualization process, the third and final policyholder vote, is scheduled May 20, the Waterloo, Ont.-based insurer announced this week. If a client had a policy – either mutual or non-mutual – with Economical in…