Topic
Markets / Coverages
Beginner’s guide to insuring pot
January 9, 2019 by Jason ContantAfter nearly three months of recreational marijuana being legal in Canada, insurers are still trying to wrap their heads around a sector with no track record and lots of uncertainty. For specialist insurer CFC Underwriting, there is still some caution…
Why Canadian insurers are reticent to enter the cannabis space
January 8, 2019 by Jason ContantWith signs of a hard insurance market in Canada, it appears that a lot of insurers are still reticent about entering the cannabis space. “When an insurance cycle goes a little bit harder, when insurers are trying to put their…
What small business owners think of private auto insurance in B.C.
December 11, 2018 by Jason ContantAs debate rages on in British Columbia over public versus private ridesharing insurance options, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has released new survey results that show nearly three of four small business owners support private auto insurance. CFIB…
Why some brokers may shy away from using an MGA
November 28, 2018 by Jason ContantThe risk of a greater errors and omissions (E&O) exposure is a major reason why some brokers choose not to place business with a managing general agent (MGA), speakers said Tuesday at Insurance-Canada.ca’s MGA Technology Symposium in Toronto. “We don’t…
Why brokers need to talk about ransomware
November 28, 2018 by Jason ContantRansomware attacks are increasing, and as a result, there will likely be a shift in brokers and clients alike starting to recognize the value of the business interruption component of a cyber insurance policy, a specialist insurer said Monday. “Cybercrime…
The secret to appealing to younger Canadian insurance buyers
November 22, 2018 by Jason ContantThinking of abandoning your brick-and-mortar stores to appeal to the tech-savvy younger generations who love to buy everything online? Don’t just yet, suggests new research from broker management system provider Applied Systems and business intelligence research firm ORC International. Instead,…
Political battle over public v. private ride-sharing insurance in B.C.
November 21, 2018 by Jason ContantThe Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is prepared to offer a blanket, usage-based insurance product, likely by next fall, if proposed legislation on ride-hailing passes before Christmas, as anticipated by the Premier, according to published reports. However, the leader…
The flood risk that might be unaccounted for
November 19, 2018 by Greg MeckbachInsurers might be unintentionally covering flood and fire risks arising from computer problems, a cyber expert with a risk modelling firm suggests. “Anything that is related to a computer system could trigger non-cyber losses,” Matt Honea, cyber director for Cyence…
Is seven months too long to wait for car repairs?
November 14, 2018 by Jason ContantA B.C. small claims tribunal has dismissed a driver’s claim that his repair shop negligently misrepresented the amount of time it would take to repair his vehicle. Jizhou Zhang sought an award of $4,500 for the loss of use and…
Large commercial brokerage reports ‘stealth’ firming in casualty lines
November 13, 2018 by Jason ContantA recent report from commercial brokerage Willis Towers Watson has confirmed what Canada’s largest insurer is saying: the commercial insurance market is showing signs of firming as casualty losses mount. “The seemingly ‘stealth’ firming within the casualty market comes as…
Why insurers urge caution on regulating condo deductibles
November 12, 2018 by Jason ContantThe government of Quebec should take a “wait-and-see” approach to define what is a reasonable or unreasonable deductible for condominium insurance, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) told Canadian Underwriter last week. The provincial finance ministry recently held a consultation…
Why marijuana plant value is so important for adjusters
November 7, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters handling recreational cannabis claims will need to consider the value of the plant at any given time in the growing process to determine actual loss, an independent adjusting firm said Tuesday. Potential cannabis greenhouse loss is much greater…