Topic
Legislation / Regulation
How Economical could demutualize in 2021
December 22, 2020 by Greg MeckbachEconomical Insurance is aiming to have an initial public offering (IPO) of stock in 2021, making it the first ever property and casualty mutual in Canada to demutualize. “If we receive required approvals from the [federal] Minister of Finance on…
Regulator cautions brokers about sharing and storing client data
December 15, 2020 by David GambrillAs the pandemic continues to plunge Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry deeper into the digital space, regulators are issuing ongoing reminders — and warnings — about how brokers are sharing and storing their clients’ personal data. Most recently, Peter…
Defying The Grinch may cost your clients home insurance coverage
December 11, 2020 by David GambrillAre your clients tempted to defy The Grinch who stole Christmas and have large holiday gatherings during the pandemic regardless of what public health orders might say? You might want to tell them about pandemic exclusions in their home insurance…
What four home insurers told the auditor general about illegal electrical work
December 8, 2020 by Greg MeckbachSome Ontario homeowners could collect insurance money on property claims even if the damage was caused by illegal electrical work, the auditor general suggests in her report released Monday. Staff with the province’s Office of the Auditor General contacted four…
This customized vehicle replacement coverage is headed for the junk yard
December 8, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThis is no April Fool’s joke. TD Insurance Group plans to stop offering its non-standard five-year vehicle replacement coverage in Nova Scotia as of Apr. 1, 2021. In 2019, the Nova Scotia Utility Review Board approved TD’s application to offer…
How a South African court applied the U.K. test case in a B.I. dispute
December 8, 2020 by David GambrillSouth Africa’s Western Cape High Court has ordered an insurer to pay a retailer of luxury travel goods up to a maximum of six months’ worth of business interruption coverage (about Cdn$1.5 million), following a dispute over losses arising from…
Public not aware of rights lost in B.C.’s no-fault auto scheme: personal injury lawyer
December 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe average British Columbia consumer does not really understand what rights they will lose with the auto insurance reforms scheduled to take effect this May, a Vancouver personal injury lawyer warns. Provincial politicians voted earlier this year to pass Bill…
Insurers now treating distracted driving as ‘major’ conviction
November 27, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIn keeping with actions previously taken by Canada’s auto insurers, Northbridge General Insurance Company will start treating driving while using a hand-held communication device as a major conviction for the purpose of setting insurance rates in Nova Scotia. The change…
How COVID-19 workplace risk advice has evolved
November 26, 2020 by Greg MeckbachAs the pandemic enters its ninth month, risk managers are seeing more emphasis on the length of conversations and the importance of wearing proper masks. “The key thing now is the length of contact with somebody else. Right now, if…
For insurance purposes, if it’s not managed as a strata, it’s still a strata: Tribunal
November 19, 2020 by David GambrillThe owner of a strata lot in a duplex that was not managed as a strata — for example, there was no strata board of directors, annual board meetings, etc. – must nevertheless pay for her half of the strata…
Broker suspended for passing off client’s cancelled vehicle plates as his own
November 10, 2020 by David GambrillA B.C. broker has been suspended for two years and fined $1,000 for passing off a client’s cancelled vehicle license plates as his own, giving the appearance that his vehicle was insured when in fact it wasn’t. Ping Hong (Gary)…
Intact’s message to politicians wanting more commercial insurance regulation
November 5, 2020 by Greg MeckbachImposing more regulation on commercial carriers is not going to help make coverage available for clients who are having a hard time finding insurance, Intact CEO Charles Brindamour suggests. “I don’t think that scaring insurers is the way to bring…