Canadian Underwriter

Topic Commercial

Small business owner closing her store
News Business InterruptionCommercialHRLoss ControlOperations

Uptick in business bankruptcies just the tip of the iceberg: CFIB

August 19, 2022 by The Canadian Press

TORONTO – A small business lobby group says commercial bankruptcies are rising in Canada and even more small businesses are at risk of closure. Data from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada shows small business insolvencies have been

Business merger and acquisition concept
News BrokersCommercialMergers and AqcuisitionsMGAsOperationsQuebec

Behind the scenes of an aggressive brokerage consolidator

August 19, 2022 by Jason Contant

Synex Business Performance plans to end this year with more than $1 billion in premium, a far cry from its humble beginnings of $3 million in premium just seven years ago. Currently, the Quebec City-based holding company has about $800

Paying a ransomware demand
News ClaimsCommercialCyberOperationsTechnology

Before paying a ransom, hacked companies should consider their ethics and values

August 18, 2022 by The Canadian Press

Michael Parent, Professor, Management Information Systems, Simon Fraser University – THE CONVERSATION   The recent cyberattacks in August on Bombardier Recreational Products and the Ontario Cannabis Store highlight the continuing scourge of cyber criminals and ransomware. Ransomware is a piece

A person wearing goggles and controlling a drone in the sky
News Business InterruptionClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksInsurersLoss ControlTechnology

How tech is helping insurers mitigate equipment breakdown losses

August 17, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

The use of drones has accelerated some loss control operations in equipment breakdown insurance, but there are pros and cons to using these technology advancements says Doug Laurin, Director, National Energy & Equipment Breakdown at Intact. A benefit is that

High cost of housing repairs are fueling rising insurance claims costs
News Business InterruptionClaimsClaims ProfessionalsClaims TechnologyCommercialCommercial AutoConstructionEmerging RisksInsurersLoss ControlLoss TrendsPersonal AutoPersonal Home

Deloitte report: How microeconomic factors will impact claims costs

August 17, 2022 by Philip Porado

Yes, overall inflation is high. One trip to the grocery store demonstrates that faster than a macroeconomics refresher lecture. So will a glance at Canada’s June 2022 Consumer Price Index, which jumped 8.1% over the prior year to mark its

Man at gas pump can't bear to look at the price he'll pay to refuel.
News Business InterruptionClaimsCommercialCommercial AutoConstructionInsurersPersonal AutoPersonal HomeProperty

As inflation and supply chain concerns ease, will insurers adjust pricing?  

August 16, 2022 by Philip Porado

Supply chain issues driving inflation since early in the COVID-19 pandemic remain a concern, although emerging signs suggest some trends impacting global goods pricing are starting to abate. “We’ve seen some easing of the supply chain challenges,” said Colette Taylor,

Malware detected on a computer
News ClaimsCommercialCyberOperationsTechnology

Ski-Doo maker ramping up operations after cyberattack forced suspension

August 16, 2022 by The Canadian Press

VALCOURT, Que. – BRP Inc. says it is ramping up production at four of its factories after a cyberattack brought its operations to a halt earlier this month. The Ski-Doo and Sea-Doo maker says manufacturing sites in Valcourt, Que., Sturtevant,

Small business closed due to COVID-19
News Business InterruptionClaimsCommercialConstructionInsurersLoss TrendsPropertySupply Chain

Why the pandemic hit these Canadian sectors particularly hard

August 16, 2022 by Jason Contant

Hospitality was the sector hardest hit by the pandemic in Canada, but that industry was already challenged with access to capacity prior to both the pandemic and the current hard market, Deloitte said in a recent report. The impacts of

little boy in high grass searching for something...
News B.C.BrokersCatastrophesClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksInsurersTechnologyTrending

Why Deloitte doesn’t anticipate a soft market ‘for the next few years’

August 15, 2022 by David Gambrill

Canada’s commercial P&C insurance market may not soften “for the next few years,” said a report on the industry published by Deloitte. “While there may be products where the market becomes more competitive on new business with good claims experience,

Cybersecurity concept with hacker working on a code
News ClaimsCommercialCyberQuebec

BRP operations to remain frozen until next week after cyberattack shutdown

August 12, 2022 by The Canadian Press

VALCOURT, Que. – Work at BRP Inc. factories will likely stay at a standstill until next week after a cyberattack that the Sea-Doo maker reported Monday. “Our teams continue working around the clock to resolve the situation and have made

Concept of ransomware - businessman buying back data from a hacker
News CommercialCyberInsurersLoss ControlTechnology

Do your clients have enough (or any) coverage for ransomware attacks?

August 10, 2022 by Jason Contant

Businesses in Canada and the United States are increasingly concerned about how they will pay ransomware demands and more than half would like governments to cover damages when future attacks are linked to other nation states, according to a new

Illustration of a woman opening the door of a small business with light fixtures hanging on the inside of the window and a bike and other floral decor on the outside
News BrokersCommercialInsurersPersonal AutoPersonal Home

Why some small business owners don’t have insurance

August 9, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Almost 40% of small business owners say they don’t have a business insurance policy, and another 25% say they don’t think they need it, finds a recent survey of 222 small business owners and self-employed professionals in Canada.   The