Canadian Underwriter

Topic Brokers

Car alarm and anti-theft device
News BrokersCommercial AutoInsurersPersonal Auto

Does your client know their car is at a high risk for theft?

November 7, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Canada’s P&C insurance industry is urging drivers to lower their own risk while it contends with high auto theft losses across the country. The problem is, 40% of drivers don’t know if they’re driving a high-risk vehicle, according to a

Online car insurance
News AlbertaBrokersInsurersOntarioPersonal AutoQuebec

Brokerage, carrier partner up to offer digital auto coverage

November 7, 2023 by Jason Contant

Square One Insurance Services and Zurich Canada have partnered to offer personal auto insurance to Ontario drivers, with a Quebec and Alberta rollout planned for early 2024. “What sets this offering apart is our fully digital experience that allows our

Successful business deal
News BrokersCommercialHRManagementMergers and AqcuisitionsOperationsPersonal AutoPersonal HomeQuebec

Behind the scenes of Hub’s latest Canadian acquisition

November 6, 2023 by Jason Contant

In a bid to shore up its personal and commercial insurance capabilities, Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of Quebec-based D’Onofrio Insurance Inc. Located in Laval, Que., D’Onofrio Insurance is an independent brokerage offering personal and commercial insurance to

Hurricane aftermath
News AdjustersBrokersClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalInsurersLoss ControlLoss Trends

How to tame increasingly ferocious NatCats

November 6, 2023 by David Gambrill

Escalating natural catastrophe losses are top of mind for specialty insurers in several different commercial lines, most notably property, said Jeff Coulson, director of claims for commercial specialty at Echelon Insurance. There were 15 declared Cats (events causing insured claims

Man on a laptop which has 'cyber security' across the screen
News BrokersCyberInsurersPersonal HomeTechnology

Is personal cyber the new fire?

November 6, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Clients are seven times more likely to fall victim to a cybercrime than a house fire.   But while most homeowners realize the need to have a fire extinguisher on hand, or to cover their risks with home insurance, many

Shopping for a new car
News AlbertaBrokersCommercial AutoInsurersPersonal Auto

Alberta UCP announces return of the auto rate cap

November 2, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) is committed to retaining auto rate caps for “good drivers” into 2024, which auto insurers say would amount to keeping the auto rate cap on 80% of the province’s drivers.   The province’s proposed auto

Merger and acquisition business concept
News BrokersMergers and AqcuisitionsOntario

McFarlan Rowlands acquires two brokerages

November 1, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers Inc. today announced the acquisition of McConville Omni Insurance Brokers Ltd. and T.G. Colley & Sons Ltd.  These acquisitions enable McFarlan Rowlands to expand in the southwestern Ontario region, the brokerage said in a release.  

Flashlight beam shining on client records as someone is up to no good.
News B.C.BrokersInsurersLegal

Brokerage reprimanded for handling of privacy breach

October 31, 2023 by David Gambrill

B.C.’s broker regulator has reprimanded an unnamed brokerage and ordered its nominee to take courses on how to handle a privacy breach, after a stash of client documents was recovered by a third party and returned to the insurance company.

Canada and Quebec flags
News BrokersCommercialInsurersLegalPersonal AutoPersonal HomeQuebec

How Quebec’s language law may affect outside insurance providers

October 30, 2023 by Jason Contant

Quebec’s recently enacted language law is creating concerns that smaller insurance providers may consider pulling out of the province. Bill 96 (Law 14), An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, came into effect June 1. Under

M&A concept
News BrokersInsurersManagementMergers and AqcuisitionsOntarioOperations

Why McFarlan Rowlands decided to sell

October 27, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

A desire for scale, coupled with a rapid succession of shareholder retirements, compelled McFarlan Rowlands to sell to a subsidiary of Definity earlier this year, a senior exec told the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Ontario’s annual convention in Toronto.  

Providing insurance coverage across the globe
News BrokersCommercialInsurers

How Canadian commercial brokers help cover multinational clients

October 27, 2023 by David Gambrill

Canadian companies — in particular, energy firms — are starting to expand across the globe, and that’s when setting up a multinational, controlled master insurance program may be beneficial. “We’ve seen a number of Canadian customers expanding their operations outside

Parking lot sign of electric vehicle charging station
News B.C.BrokersCommercial AutoInsurersNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioPersonal AutoQuebec

Why auto insurance concerns might hinder electric vehicle adoption

October 26, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

As governments gear up for a national push toward electric vehicles (EVs), Canadians are harbouring anxieties about their auto insurance policies.  Seventy eight per cent of Canadians are concerned about the cost of their insurance premiums on an electric vehicle,