Topic
Legislation / Regulation
How much did auto insurance rates go up in Alberta last quarter?
January 13, 2020 by Jason ContantAlberta’s Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) has approved rate increases for more than 20 insurers in Q4 2019, ranging from less than 1% to nearly 30% for basic coverage for private passenger vehicles. The rate hike was about 10% on…
No insurer-based new home warranty system for this province
January 6, 2020 by Greg MeckbachAn insurer-based model for new home warranty was under consideration in Ontario but the current government is maintaining the status quo. “Our government has been looking at the feasibility of a private insurance model for new home warranties and protections…
There goes the neighbourhood
January 4, 2020 Sarah Cunningham-Scharf, Freelance WriterHow governments and the industry should broach the delicate topic of expropriation in areas at high risk of flood damage
Why brokers need to keep abreast of regulatory changes for cannabis
January 3, 2020 by Jason ContantBrokers with cannabis clients need to keep an eye on the changing legal landscape and cannabis companies’ evolving needs, paying particular attention to directors’ and officers’ liability, a managing general agency told Canadian Underwriter recently. Recreational cannabis became legal in…
Executive Outlook 2020 | Jason Storah, Aviva Canada
December 30, 2019 by David GambrillJason Storah, President, CEO, Aviva Canada I find it quite interesting, intriguing and frustrating that auto insurance is so complex in this country. Why is an auto accident treated differently in Quebec, Ontario, B.C., or Alberta? It doesn’t make sense,…
Executive Outlook 2020 | Carol Jardine, Wawanesa
December 30, 2019 by David GambrillCarol Jardine, President, Canadian P&C Operations, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company One of the most important issues facing the industry is the Canadian consumer’s pocketbook. Canadian families have never been more in debt and GDP and wage growth aren’t helping.…
What Santa delivered to Ontario auto insurers
December 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachSugar plums are likely dancing in the heads of at least some Ontario auto underwriters as a result of a series of developments over the past year. When the government released its budget this past April, it included a bunch…
The hidden cost of Ontario auto accident injuries
December 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMore than half a million Ontarians receive some form of government disability support and an advocate for claimants suggests many of these are caused by motor vehicle accident injuries. “At the end of the day, unpaid claimants don’t just go…
Man named in FSRA warning denies soliciting business for Sonnet
December 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Toronto man who told Canadian Underwriter he recommended direct writer Sonnet to some of his friends is denying allegations made by the Ontario insurance market conduct regulator that he actually solicited auto insurance through Sonnet. “I am not soliciting…
Why you need to consider open banking
December 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAs open banking makes it easier for other players to access your clients’ financial data, now is the time for insurance professionals start thinking about how they can take advantage of this new model, an actuary advises. “A number of…
Municipalities: another victim of the hard market?
December 9, 2019 by Jason ContantAre Ontario municipalities another victim of the hardening market? “A lot of municipalities are facing increased premiums or difficulty with obtaining insurance,” said Pino Cianfarani, partner at Lerners LLP, speaking at Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) Commercial Insurance Symposium Nov.…
Would driver training reduce risk for dump trucks and buses?
December 9, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCould commercial auto risk be reduced if training was mandatory for drivers of dump trucks, buses and 20-foot cube vans? It’s a question Ontario’s transportation ministry is looking at, the province announced in its recent auditor general’s report. Formal training…