Topic B.C.
B.C. health authority’s cybersecurity lacking on medical devices, says audit
February 9, 2021 by Jason ContantVICTORIA – British Columbia’s auditor general says the Provincial Health Services Authority is not effectively managing cybersecurity threats for medical devices and has not evaluated the risk to patients. Michael Pickup says ineffective cybersecurity management means the authority can’t apply…
B.C. drivers to receive COVID-19 insurance rebate cheques averaging $190 next month
February 3, 2021 by Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – Almost three million drivers in British Columbia will receive COVID-19 insurance rebate cheques next month that average about $190 each, Premier John Horgan said Tuesday. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia will return $600 million in net savings…
Canadian auto and property insurance rates headed in opposite directions
February 1, 2021 by Jason ContantAverage personal auto premium rates in Canada decreased 2.6% in 2020 Q4 compared to the same period in 2019, but some provinces did see an increase, according to the latest results from Applied Systems’ premium rate index. On average, both…
How B.C. is changing the way vehicle repair and replacement costs are paid
January 27, 2021 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia is changing the way vehicle repair and replacement costs are paid in a move the province’s public auto insurer says will ensure all policyholders receive a consistent level of vehicle damage protection when they are not responsible for…
Why this small claims tribunal changed an auto insurer’s liability finding
January 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia driver who was found 50% at fault for a collision by the province’s monopoly auto insurer has partly won a small claim against the other driver. Hartmut Wolfram and Yunsun Kim collided with one another in Burnaby…
Residents of Old Fort, B.C. suing province, others over slow-moving landslide
January 21, 2021 by Amy Smart - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Residents of a tiny community in northeastern British Columbia are suing the local and provincial governments over two slow-moving landslides they claim caused their property values to plummet. In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme…
The role of digital transformation in Westland’s acquisition strategy
January 14, 2021 by Jason ContantExpanded opportunities for digital transformation are one of the key reasons behind Westland Insurance Group Ltd.’s recent acquisition of Storm Insurance Group, Westland told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. British Columbia-based Westland closed its acquisition of Storm Jan. 7. Storm operates under…
Wind and snow storm leaves power outages across much of southern B.C.
January 13, 2021 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The latest wicked weather to sweep across southern British Columbia downed trees and power lines in many areas and left thousands in the dark. Environment Canada says wind gusts topped 100 km/h in Victoria and the eastern Fraser…
Brokerage M&A off to a strong start in 2021
January 7, 2021 by Jason ContantLarge Canadian brokerage Westland Insurance Group Ltd. now has a coast-to-coast presence with its acquisition of Storm Insurance Group, which has offices in Nova Scotia and Quebec. The deal, which closed Wednesday, is one of three acquisitions closed or announced…
Wind and rain batter coast of British Columbia
January 6, 2021 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Wind and rain warnings have been lifted from coastal British Columbia following a powerful storm that hammered Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast and cancelled sailings on most BC Ferry routes. Gusts topping 130 km/h lashed…
Missing signature takes homeowner off the hook for paying restoration service bill
January 4, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA restoration firm dispatched by an insurer to respond to water damage at a British Columbia strata unit cannot collect the nearly $1,400 the contractor says the client owes for emergency services. This is the result of a recent British…
Thousands still without power after snow and wind storm hits B.C.
December 22, 2020 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – BC Hydro crews worked through the night to restore power to thousands of customers in southern British Columbia following a wicked snow and wind storm that arrived on the first day of winter. Hydro was reporting as many…