Topic Commercial
Court sides with insurer in $2.5-million professional liability case
February 28, 2022 by David GambrillTwo creditor firms seeking to access insurance policy proceeds in a $2.5-million trust fund misappropriation case against a lawyer lost their bid to interpret the $500,000 sublimit as applying to each of their claims, instead of being an aggregate policy…
How inflation could prolong the hard market
February 25, 2022 by David GambrillInflation could prolong the hard market in Canada’s property and casualty lines, brokers caution. RMS Canada reports that inflation will hit 5% in 2022 before approaching 3% by the year’s end. “Persistent inflation is primarily due to supply constraints and…
Why cannabis companies are seeing lower D&O rates
February 22, 2022 by Jason ContantPricing for cannabis-related directors and officers (D&O) insurance is trending downward, but only relative to the rest of the market, said an insurance brokerage executive. “When cannabis was first legalized in Canada, you had a handful of carriers that [offered]…
Brokers bemoan lack of seasoned underwriters
February 22, 2022 by Gloria CilliersA major shortage of seasoned commercial underwriting staff is impacting broker relationships and productivity, some brokerages have reported. For an industry already struggling with a country-wide talent crunch exacerbated by the pandemic, renewed M&A activity and a hard market, brokers…
Politicians condemn violence at Coastal GasLink construction site in northern B.C.
February 22, 2022 by Hina Alam - THE CANADIAN PRESSPoliticians are denouncing what police have called a violent confrontation in separate attacks against officers and employees at a construction site for a natural gas pipeline being built across northern British Columbia. Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino called the…
Large brokerage makes fourth acquisition in 2022
February 18, 2022 by Jason ContantNavacord Corp. is expanding its reach in northern Alberta with the addition of Stone Insurance Brokers. Based in Manning, Alta., Stone Insurance Brokers services clients across northern Alberta and British Columbia, specializing in forestry, farming, transportation and oil and gas. …
Global (re)insurer appoints new head of claims for Canada
February 17, 2022 by Jason ContantGlobal commercial insurer and reinsurer AXA XL has appointed Sandra Lee as head of claims for Canada. Lee served as leader for the local casualty claims team. She will now have oversight for all claims activity across property and casualty,…
Lawyers on boutique D&O: Don’t just take your broker’s word for it
February 16, 2022 by David GambrillFor boutique D&O coverages, a law firm says companies should be bringing in a lawyer to look at the contract coverage and not just rely on the opinion of the insurance broker about coverage. This is particularly true in business…
How far Intact’s specialty reach has expanded
February 15, 2022 by Jason ContantIntact Financial Corporation CEO Charles Brindamour says Canada’s largest P&C insurer has established a “truly global platform” that can now reach 70% of the global specialty solutions market with the expertise it has on board. “The thing that I like…
Definity grows commercial portfolio, eyes M&A
February 14, 2022 by Philip PoradoFocus on improving its commercial business has paid off, Definity Financial Corporation’s president and CEO Rowan Saunders told a Feb. 14 fireside chat with BMO Capital Markets equity analyst Tom MacKinnon. “It’s really a very different-looking portfolio now than it…
OSFI softens stance in new reinsurance guidelines
February 14, 2022 by David GambrillOSFI has softened its stance on two of the Canadian P&C industry’s key concerns in the solvency regulator’s final published guidelines on Sound Reinsurance Practices and Procedures (B-3) and Property and Casualty Large Insurance Exposures and Investment Concentration (B-2). Revised…
Insurers lose privilege bid after mill’s internal explosion investigation
February 11, 2022 by David GambrillSix insurance companies and a pulp and paper manufacturing company, Fortress Specialty Cellulose, have lost their bid to have a PowerPoint presentation about the cause of a commercial explosion protected under litigation privilege. In rejecting their argument, the Superior Court…