Canadian Underwriter

Topic Commercial

Vintage compound microscope.Vintage Technologies Series
News Commercial

Before clients sign contracts, check for waivers of subrogation

February 10, 2022 by Michael Carey

As part of business, insureds and their customers sign contracts setting out the terms of their arrangements regarding price, payment terms, delivery schedule and more. But boilerplate legal terms, which often aren’t even read, also contain binding terms and may

Graph representing Canadian economy
News BrokersCommercialCyberEmerging RisksInsurersLiabilityLoss Trends

Challenging market conditions remain for these two lines in Canada

February 10, 2022 by Jason Contant

Market conditions for cyber and directors’ and officers’ (D&O) lines of business remain challenging in Canada, according to Aon plc’s latest quarterly Global Market Insights Report. Aon’s report for the fourth quarter of 2021, released Wednesday, emphasizes how new forms

Damaged structures in Lytton, B.C.
News B.C.CatastrophesClaimsCommercialPersonal HomeProperty

Wildfire destroys Lytton’s governance records; B.C. gives OK to rewrite bylaws  

February 10, 2022 by Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESS

VICTORIA – The mayor of the fire-ravaged community of Lytton, B.C., says rewriting the village’s bylaws from scratch will be about as entertaining as going to the dentist but it’s another step in the massive rebuilding effort.   The village’s records

Satellite orbiting the earth
News CatastrophesCommercialInsurersTechnology

New collaboration uses satellite data to develop new insurance products

February 9, 2022 by Jason Contant

Tokio Marine Holdings and ICEYE, a radar data provider and expert in NatCat solutions, have announced a commercial collaboration to develop new insurance products and services that utilize satellite data. ICEYE says Tokio Marine (whose Canadian branch has underwriting offices

Digital transformation concept
News CommercialTechnology

Steps to take in your digital transformation journey

February 8, 2022 by Jason Contant

Canada’s P&C insurance industry has been undertaking digital transformation initiatives for a while now, some of which have been accelerated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  But how does a brokerage or carrier know where to focus their investment, and understand

Rising home insurance concept
News ClaimsCommercialInsurersPersonal AutoPersonal Home

Where Intact CEO sees personal home rates heading

February 7, 2022 by Jason Contant

Personal home insurance will continue to face a firm pricing environment for the foreseeable future, the CEO of Intact Financial Corporation said at a recent virtual conference. “You can expect a firm pricing environment, mid- to upper-single-digit range for the

Two ice cubes melting on reflected surface
News CommercialCyberInsurers

Hard market shows signs of thawing

February 3, 2022 by David Gambrill

Globally, the P&C insurance market remains on the hard side, but there are signs of melting, based on the results of the latest Global Insurance Market Index released by Marsh. Global commercial insurance prices increased 13% in 2021 Q4, continuing

Jigsaw puzzle pieces standing on end
News BrokersCommercialMergers and AqcuisitionsOntarioPersonal Auto

Westland’s newest brokerage acquisition

February 3, 2022 by Canadian Underwriter Staff

Westland Insurance Group has continued its expansion spree, today announcing acquisition of Campbell, Roy & Eldridge Insurance Services. Markham, Ont.-based Campbell, Roy & Eldridge offers a wide range of coverages, including home, condo, auto, RV, motorcycle, boat, watercraft, business, trucking

Canada flag on bar chart concept of economic recovery and business improving after crisis such as Covid-19 or other catastrophe as economy and businesses reopen again.
News CommercialInsurersLiability

Which insurer is providing more E&O capacity to Canada

February 2, 2022 by David Gambrill

Signs are showing that stability – and more capacity – is returning to Canada’s commercial insurance market, including a recent announcement that the professional liability division of Cincinnati-based Great American Insurance Group has expanded into Canada. More specifically, Great American’s

Man looking through an agreement
News CommercialLegalLiabilityOperationsSupply Chain

Indemnities can significantly increase the risk to your client

February 1, 2022 by Michael Carey

Corporations are increasingly using standard form agreements to conduct business with suppliers. If your client is faced with one, watch out for the inclusion of an unlimited indemnity. A standard form agreement provides several benefits to the corporation that drafts

'Omicron variant' written on test tube
News CommercialLoss ControlLoss TrendsPropertySupply Chain

Omicron variant raises uncertainty as companies downgrade forecasts  

February 1, 2022 by Christopher Reynolds - THE CANADIAN PRESS

The highly transmissible Omicron variant has prompted companies in the manufacturing and resource sectors to downgrade their earnings forecasts amid ongoing uncertainty linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.   Cascades Inc., the Quebec-based packaging and tissue company, said Monday it expects fourth-quarter

Aerial view of Vancouver
News BrokersCommercialConstruction

Brokerage launches new specialty entity

January 28, 2022 by Jason Contant

Brokerage Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (WMB) has officially opened the doors to a new specialty entity in Vancouver.  Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services (Specialty) Inc., or WMB Specialty, will operate as a commercially-focused insurance brokerage as part of the