Sinkhole prompts evacuation order for 14 B.C. homes
February 15, 2019 by THE CANADIAN PRESSSECHELT, B.C. – Residents of an upscale neighbourhood on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast will officially be barred from returning to their dream homes today. Sinkholes throughout the subdivision have prompted the District of Sechelt to issue evacuation orders covering 14…
Judge questions wildfire mitigation plan
February 14, 2019 by Sudhin Thanawala - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSAN FRANCISCO – A U.S. judge who has berated Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. for its role in California wildfires demanded Thursday that the utility answer more questions about its efforts to clear trees and branches that can fall on…
The type of claims that may arise from legalization of cannabis edibles
February 14, 2019 by Jason ContantWith the upcoming legalization of edibles containing cannabis this October, Canadian claims adjusters may see more indirect injury loss and damage claims, suggests a lawyer with Field Law in Calgary. Compared to regular smoked marijuana, edibles have a more delayed…
Why post-tropical storms can be worse than the original storm
February 13, 2019 by Jason ContantInland flood damage arising from post-tropical storms can be an even greater risk than wind damage, a meteorologist from Aon said last week at the CatIQ Connect conference in downtown Toronto. “That’s concerning because here in Canada, as in the…
Lawsuit over flooding, catch-basin access could reach Supreme Court
February 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA property owner who was sued for more than $100,000 over laneway flooding is hoping to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Marilyn Marks owns commercial property in the community of Tottenham, Ont., about 40 kilometres north of Toronto…
Why leaking sewers are contributing to higher flood risk
February 11, 2019 by Jason ContantBrand new storm and sanitary sewers are leaking water at an unacceptable rate, putting individual homes at higher risk of flooding, a civil engineer said last week at the CatIQ Connect conference in Toronto. “We have allowable leakage, a little…
Executive challenges brokers regarding earthquake take-up rates in Quebec
February 8, 2019 by Jason ContantSparks flew during a recent conference discussion about mortgage impairment and earthquake loss, when a senior reinsurance company executive drew a link between the practices of Quebec brokers and the low take-up rates of earthquake insurance in the province. Philipp…
B.C. auto insurer heading for billion dollar loss
February 8, 2019 by THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – British Columbia’s attorney general says the financial situation with the province’s public auto insurance agency is critical and getting worse. David Eby says the Insurance Corporation of B.C. lost $860 million for the first nine months of its…
What the industry learned from the costliest catastrophe of 2018
February 7, 2019 by Jason ContantThe sheer volume of claims following the windstorm that swept through southern Ontario and Quebec last May led to critical service disruptions, after so many consumers called at once to report their claims to their insurers. “I’m not sure people…
Top court won’t hear appeal of controversial waiver decision
February 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA 2018 Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling on waivers, described as “great news” for liability insurers, is now final. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will not hear an appeal of Schnarr v. Blue Mountain Resorts Limited,…
Freight train involved in fatal derailment started on its own: TSB
February 6, 2019 by Lauren Krugel - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – A Canadian Pacific freight train parked on a frigid night in the Rocky Mountains began to move on its own before a derailment that killed three workers and sent 99 grain cars and two locomotives hurling off the…
Has Intact noticed the impact of pot legalization on auto claims?
February 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachRecreational cannabis has been legal for nearly four months, but it’s too early for Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer to tell whether it’s having an impact on auto claims frequency. Senior managers with Intact Financial Corp. were asked Wednesday…
