Topic B.C.
Brokers, insurers differ on the value of numerous flood products for home owners
July 4, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoCanada’s property and casualty insurance brokers have long maintained the need for a unified flood map, but insurers want to compete on their proprietary flood maps, and the ongoing differences between brokers and their insurance partners on this point became…
Fierce blaze damages several businesses, forces evacuation in B.C. city
July 4, 2023 by The Canadian PressVERNON, B.C. – A restaurant, boutique, salon and costume shop are among the businesses believed to have been destroyed in an early morning fire in downtown Vernon, B.C. Flames broke out in the commercial building at about 2:30 a.m., blanketing…
B.C. must urgently change forest strategies or face more wildfire disasters: report
June 30, 2023 by Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – British Columbia’s independent forests watchdog is calling for the provincial government to make critical changes to how it manages forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The report, released Thursday by the B.C. Forest Practices Board, says…
What the court said about a condo owner using his unit for Airbnb
June 29, 2023 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered a strata corporation to direct one of its council members to stop using a unit for short-term accommodations (STAs) after finding the council member violated a strata bylaw. The case centred around Bylaw…
Home-sharing app specifically for insurance to go national
June 28, 2023 by David GambrillTens of thousands of Canadians have been forced to evacuate because of an active wildfire season, and a new home-sharing digital platform dedicated to insurance is expanding nationally to help adjusters find temporary accommodations for insureds whose homes have been…
Which peril might bankrupt the Canadian P&C industry?
June 28, 2023 by Canadian Underwriter StaffOttawa’s effort to build policy around flood risk in the face of climate change is important, but it overlooks a peril that could be far more catastrophic for Canadian P&C insurers, Alister Campbell, president and CEO of Property and Casualty…
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions names new head of Canada
June 13, 2023 by David GambrillSwiss Re Corporate Solutions has appointed James Gasco head of Canada for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, effective Sept. 1, 2023. Gasco succeeds Adrian Hall, who moves to London to become Head UK, Ireland, South Africa, and EMEA Wholesale for Swiss…
Canada is experiencing its ‘worst wildfire season of the 21st century’: Blair
June 13, 2023 by The Canadian PressCanada is experiencing its worst wildfire season of the 21st century. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced the grim milestone Monday, saying more than 47,000 square kilometres have burned so far this year, with 431 wildfires currently burning across Canada. …
Here’s what adjuster capacity is like for Canada’s wildfires
June 12, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoFirefighters and other first responders have been stretched thin while battling an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada, and such may be the case for claims adjuster capacity as well. Across the industry, it’s a mixed bag of how quickly adjusters…
Westland widens Ontario footprint with new acquisitions
June 7, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance has acquired two Ontario-based brokerages, MYCOR Insurance Solutions Inc. and Murphy Insurance Services Inc., further expanding its fleet in the province. The acquisitions, effective June 1, will enable Westland to continue growing in Canada, “both organically and through…
Province to launch restricted licence for incidental insurance
June 6, 2023 by David GambrillB.C.’s broker regulator, the Insurance Council of B.C., is now consulting on a proposed new restricted licensing framework to regulate the sale of incidental insurance, the council announced in late May. The regulator’s initiative follows the province’s Bill 37, which…
Are you covered for driving through flood water?
June 5, 2023 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia’s Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) has ruled in favour of the province’s public auto insurer after finding it properly classified a water-damaged vehicle under collision coverage. At issue was whether Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) correctly determined water…