Topic B.C.
B.C. government urges people to prepare for possible flooding as weather warms
June 2, 2022 by The Canadian PressTERRACE, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Warming weather is causing rivers to rise in northern British Columbia, prompting the province to encourage people to prepare for possible flooding. A joint statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Management B.C. says…
Brokerage loses bid to dismiss human rights complaint
May 31, 2022 by David GambrillB.C.’s Human Rights Tribunal has denied an application by insurance brokerage Shaw Sabey and Associates to dismiss a complaint lodged by one of its former employees, Adam Kwan, who is of mixed racial descent. “I want to be clear that…
Hot summer temperatures, big storms to sweep much of Canada, Weather Network predicts
May 31, 2022 by David Friend - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Seasonal or higher than normal temperatures across much of the country will offer Canadians a chance to enjoy the summer, but predictions from a prominent national forecaster warn the humidity could welcome a rather stormy few months. Chris…
Westland expands reach into Ontario with recent acquisitions
May 27, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance Group Ltd. has broadened its place in commercial and personal lines with the recent acquisition of two Ontario-based brokerages: MCR Insurance in Aurora and Walter Roberts Insurance in Richmond Hill. Ontario is an area of strategic importance, Westland…
Auto insurance: How to handle acid spill claims
May 26, 2022 by Jason ContantInsurers would be well-advised to have experts and claim-handling protocols on hand to identify unique claim situations such as the two sulphuric acid spills in Trail, B.C. several years ago, two forensic engineers say. On Apr. 10 and May 23,…
How to speed up claims response for NatCats
May 25, 2022 by Yasser Korany, Mario Delorme and Mazen HabashExtreme weather events have become common, some bringing unprecedented levels of destruction to structures and facilities, overwhelming owners, property managers and insurers. In response, nearly all major insurers have created centralized Cat units dedicated to handling claims arising from extreme…
What cottagers may overlook when it comes to seasonal insurance
May 17, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWith the May long weekend just around the corner, many Canadians will be packing their bags and heading up to the cottage, but a post-pandemic surge of demand may mean a lot of cottage rentals, and some important points of…
Appeal Court green-lights key feature of B.C.’s no-fault auto reform
May 12, 2022 by David GambrillA central pillar of the B.C. government’s auto insurance reform — that the province’s Civil Rules Tribunal (CRT) has exclusive jurisdiction to determine minor injuries below $50,000, and not the courts — has been found constitutional by the B.C. Appeal…
Don’t investigate fraud suspicions indefinitely, court tells insurer
May 6, 2022 by David GambrillIf an insurer suspects fraud in a house fire contents claim, it might be better to deny the claim within 60 days, alleging fraud, rather than to prolong the claims investigation indefinitely while asking for documentation from the insured that…
3 lessons about brokers’ obligations to insureds
May 6, 2022 by Harmon C. HaydenA broker has an obligation to help clients understand policy specifics and avoid coverage gaps, and it’s not necessarily going to save them if the client hasn’t reviewed the policy, the British Columbia Court of Appeal found recently in Alvaro…
Auto insurer changes policy on seeking costs from cyclists and pedestrians
May 5, 2022 by Jason ContantEditor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information from ICBC. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is changing its policy on when it seeks recovery for costs from cyclists and pedestrians who have some responsibility for…
Insurance Act changes may help Alberta as insurers retreat from oil and gas
May 4, 2022 by Philip PoradoMajor insurers continue to announce they’ll cease issuing coverage to the oil and gas industry, which remains economically critical to Alberta and other Canadian provinces – and is poised to experience a demand boost as Europe seeks alternatives to Russian…