Topic B.C.
What this Vancouver plaintiff’s lawyer says about pandemic business interruption coverage
October 27, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia lawyer suggests at least half the business interruption insurance policies he has reviewed should cover a client who lost business because of emergency measures imposed to contain the novel coronavirus. “People who have ‘all-risk’ policies should be…
Purdue Pharma pleas could bolster efforts for Canadian opioid class action
October 23, 2020 by Anita Balakrishnan - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – A Canadian class action against opioid makers will start the process of getting certified in a hearing next month, a key test on how courts here will handle a case that is making waves in the U.S. The…
Insurer loses scooter claim because of a ‘deprecated’ sales receipt
October 20, 2020 by David GambrillIf a claim for a stolen scooter draws suspicion, an insurer will need to do more than just cite skepticism about the condition in which the power charger, keys and helmet are returned — especially if the electronic bike’s purchase…
Western Canadian air tanker fleet busy despite drop in wildfires
October 19, 2020 by Bill Graveland - THE CANADIAN PRESSRED DEER, Alta. – A family-run company providing air-tanker support to control menacing wildfires in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Yukon is a little less busy these days, but it has nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. “It has…
The growing cost to clean up abandoned and orphaned wells
October 16, 2020 by The Canadian PressThis article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Author: Kevin Kemball, Director – Centre for Boreal Research, Northern Alberta…
Cancelled contracts in the COVID age: A tribunal weighs in on a wedding, interrupted
October 14, 2020 by David GambrillA public health emergency such as a pandemic may be an unforeseen “act of God,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will make it illegal or impossible for a business to fulfill the terms of a commercial contract with a…
B.C. auto could look a bit like these two provinces under a Liberal regime: IBC
October 9, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf the Liberals return to power this fall in British Columbia after a three-year hiatus, and if they keep their election promises, the province’s auto insurance system may look similar to the auto insurance systems in both Quebec and Saskatchewan,…
Why opening up B.C. auto to competition could help even if it doesn’t lower prices
October 8, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBritish Columbia motorists would probably benefit from more choice in auto insurance if it means they can start doing more things by phone and online, suggests the co-founder of an online price comparison site. With the provincial election scheduled Oct.…
Appeal court spells out difference between an ‘omission’ and a ‘misrepresentation’ on an insurance form
October 8, 2020 by David GambrillB.C.’s Court of Appeal overturned a decision Wednesday against BCAA Insurance Corporation in a case that turned on the crucial difference between an “omission” and a “misrepresentation” in a home insurance application. Ultimately, the B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a…
How COVID-19 can trigger a ‘force majeure’ or ‘act of God’ clause in a contract
October 7, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe COVID-19 pandemic could be considered an “act of God,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean a client can recoup a deposit for cancelling a large gathering, a recent British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal ruling suggests. While most property and casualty…
Why B.C. brokers are not rallying behind Liberal auto insurance election promise
October 7, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBritish Columbia’s Liberal party, which ruled the province from 2001 through 2017, is promising to open auto insurance up to competition if voters return the Liberals to power in the Oct. 24 election. “The ICBC monopoly is a failure and…
Brokerage M&A roundup: Westland and BrokerTeam announce deals
October 2, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWestland Insurance Group and BrokerTeam Group have both announced separate deals this past week. Westland Insurance Group Ltd. acquired two Alberta brokerages, effective Oct. 1. Surrey, B.C.-based Westland announced Friday it closed the acquisition of Carstairs, Alta.-based Ironside Insurance Brokers…