This is how much fire following an earthquake in Montreal could cost
November 19, 2019 by Jason ContantA severe earthquake in the Montreal area could cause between $10 billion and $30 billion in economic losses from fire damage, according to a new study from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). “This loss would be virtually fully…
Thousands displaced by this apartment fire won’t go home this year
November 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMore than 1,000 residents displaced by a major electrical fire in 2018 will not be moving back into their apartment building this year. A fire broke out Aug. 21, 2018 in the electrical room of 650 Parliament Street, a high-rise…
Who’s liable for what in this $2.2-million fuel oil spill
November 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAnother chapter in the sad story of a $2.2-million residential heating fuel oil spill, into a fresh-water lake, has been closed. The Supreme Court of Canada announced this past Thursday it will not hear an appeal from Thompson Fuels of…
Insurers’ medical examiner gets his day at Supreme Court of Canada
November 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe Supreme Court of Canada is considering whether or not to send an insurance medical examiner’s libel case to trial, based on comments made by a personal injury lawyer about the examiner’s work in a closed forum that got leaked…
Why you might be having a hard time finding coverage in liability lines
November 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachLiability loss inflation may be a new topic of discussion for securities analysts who watch the property and casualty sector, but for Canada’s largest insurer, it’s nothing particularly novel. “There is inflation,” Charles Brindamour, CEO of Intact Financial Corp., observed…
A new way to make insurance for high-risk homes in flood plains affordable
November 14, 2019 by Adam MalikAmphibious architecture could be the key to mitigating flood risk and making insurance affordable for those living and working in floodplains, according to one expert. The technology allows structures to float as water levels rise. Amphibious construction and retrofitting of…
Two-year window to dispute auto claim denial not a ‘hard limitation,’ court rules
November 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe two-year time limit to take auto accident benefits disputes to Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) is not a “hard limitation” period, the province’s appeal court has ruled. In Tomec v. Economical Mutual Insurance Company, released Nov. 8, the Court…
How change of backyard elevation spawns liability risk
November 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA London, Ont. homeowner is in legal trouble because the water that was supposed to flow east from his neighbour’s backyard, across his property, started going the wrong way 12 years ago. In Dankiewicz v. Sullivan, released Nov. 4, Justice…
Maritimes hit with another blast of early winter weather
November 12, 2019 by The Canadian PressFREDERICTON – The Maritimes are getting another blast of early wintry weather with a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain. Much of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island awoke to snow and slippery roads, while Nova Scotia is seeing…
Why crop insurance won’t come soon enough for these Prairie farmers
November 11, 2019 by Bill Graveland - THE CANADIAN PRESSWinter’s icy fingers have touched most of the Prairies since late September, causing havoc and frustration for many farmers trying to get crops off their fields. Dave Reid, who farms near Cremona, northwest of Calgary, estimates 20 to 25 per…
Evacuation order lifted nearly two months after crane collapse
November 6, 2019 by The Canadian PressHALIFAX – The last three businesses evacuated when a crane collapsed in downtown Halifax are being allowed to return to their locations, almost two months after a storm toppled it. The final stage of the crane and debris removal from…
Court finds corporate director personally liable for worker’s comp injury claim
November 5, 2019 by David GambrillA corporate director can be held personally liable for injuries that happen to employees in a workplace while the director is simultaneously engaged in the work “as part of the business of the corporation,” the Court of Appeal of Alberta…
