Topic Commercial Auto
How satisfied Canadian consumers are with their insurer
May 26, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDespite the hard market slowing down service capabilities in some areas of the P&C industry, Canadian consumers seem satisfied with their insurance policies, according to a recent survey by insurance software company Duck Creek Technologies. Almost all insured Canadians…
MPI announces new interim CEO and president
May 23, 2023 by David GambrillMarnie Kacher is now interim president and CEO of Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) while the province’s public auto insurer begins recruiting for a permanent leader. “MPI is an important Crown corporation and I want to thank Marnie Kacher for taking…
Why D&O brokers are looking at risk mitigation
May 19, 2023 by Philip PoradoAmid signs the recently easing directors and officers (D&O) coverage segment may gradually become a bit tougher, brokers and insurers will be taking a closer look at companies’ risk-mitigation procedures. When writing risks, Catherine Lanctot, senior vice president and national…
Don’t let clients cheap out on cyber coverage
May 10, 2023 by Philip PoradoAs high-profile ransomware attacks continue to grab headlines, insurers providing directors and officers (D&O) coverage are concerned private company boards might not be managing cyber risk. “Are they allocating enough funds to cybersecurity? Are they going to have a lawsuit…
Tips for advising commercial clients during economic downturns
May 9, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoInflation and the looming threat of an economic downturn would seem like a one-two punch that would make commercial clients think about ways to skimp on insurance. But it isn’t necessarily so. “Insurance is not a discretionary spend for most companies,”…
Westland expands reach in Ontario with latest acquisition
May 5, 2023 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance has acquired Ontario-based First Durham Insurance & Financial Ltd., one of the largest and oldest full-service independent brokerages in the Durham Region. “Effective May 1, this acquisition helps Westland expand its reach in the important Ontario market,” Westland…
Commercial lines are growing. Will this affect profitability?
May 3, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoTighter underwriting control, client safeguards and softening of certain lines have helped some business segments start growing again, experts told a Canadian Underwriter webinar. But the industry is wary of growth at the expense of profitability. “We’ve got a lot of…
Brokers still worry about the hard market, but what’s next?
May 1, 2023 by Philip PoradoAlthough Canadian property and casualty (P&C) insurance brokers still call the hard market their greatest challenge, their overall level of concern is gradually waning. So found Canadian Underwriter’s 2023 National Broker Survey, in which more than 150 brokers nationwide expressed…
How the industry’s ROE is trending
April 26, 2023 by Jason ContantThe Canadian property and casualty insurance industry’s return on equity (ROE) last year dropped a few percentage points from the 17% to 18% level it was in 2021, but it’s still above the long-run average of 10.1%, a new industry…
How brokers should approach a client who wants to drop DCPD coverage
April 19, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBrokers with clients looking to save money would be better off helping them understand how affordable a coverage is, rather than opting out of OPCF-49, or Direct Compensation-Property Damage (DCPD) coverage, one expert told Canadian Underwriter. Starting on Jan. 1,…
Will Canada’s 2023 underwriting results track U.S. improvements?
April 19, 2023 by Philip PoradoCanadian insurers, like their U.S. counterparts, may see some better underwriting results this year. In the U.S., property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry underwriting results are likely to improve during 2023, in response to significant premium increases in underperforming automobile…
Brokers braced for tough conversations when the economy slips
April 14, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoMost economists are still calling for some degree of economic downturn later in 2023. That makes the road ahead uncertain for commercial companies, and many can be expected to seek ways to tighten their belts. For some, cost-cutting measures may…