Topic Construction
XL Catlin quadruples North American builder’s risk capacity to US$1 billion
March 9, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterXL Catlin announced on Wednesday that it has quadrupled its builder’s risk insurance capacity to US$1 billion from US$250 million for construction firms in North America. The increased coverage for high-value commercial real estate projects is the result of a…
IBC congratulates federal government on National Research Council decision to update Canada’s building codes
February 28, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is congratulating the federal government on the National Research Council Canada (NRC) decision to update the country’s building codes to reflect the realities of climate change. “This is something that Canada’s property and casualty…
Government of Alberta advances Disaster Recovery Program funding to help with Fort McMurray uninsurable costs
February 24, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe government of Alberta announced on Thursday that it is advancing $20 million in Disaster Recovery Program funding to help with uninsurable costs related to the Fort McMurray wildfire. The funding is intended to help with uninsurable costs, such as…
Two U.S. dams illustrate challenge of maintaining older designs
February 22, 2017 by Michael R. Blood - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSLOS ANGELES – Twelve years ago, widespread destruction from Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast helped compel federal engineers 2,000 miles away in California to remake a 1950s-era dam by constructing a massive steel-and-concrete gutter that would manage surging waters…
Weather risk accounts for an estimated US$56 billion in untapped wind energy asset values globally: GCube
January 31, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterResource underperformance has surpassed mechanical breakdown and component damage as the major obstacle to achieving bankable wind energy projects, GCube Underwriting Ltd. notes in a report estimating the untapped asset values of wind energy stakeholders around the world at US$56…
Manitoba to streamline farm building code requirements
January 25, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe government of Manitoba announced on Wednesday that it is removing “unnecessary regulatory requirements” on the construction of farm buildings. Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler suggested in a statement that the removal of the regulations will support the long-term, sustainable…
Canadian pipeline applications to require more emergency response information
January 12, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe National Energy Board (NEB), an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada’s energy industry, announced on Wednesday that it will require companies to provide additional emergency response detail during the pipeline application phase of a project. NEB said…
City of Toronto announces road safety plan for 2017, including 76 new red light camera sites
January 11, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe City of Toronto has announced its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan for 2017, which includes 45 new measures that will be introduced this year targeted at eliminating fatalities and reducing serious injuries, with an emphasis on pedestrians, aggressive and…
CMW Insurance Services, Capri Insurance Services merger positions new company for growth
January 10, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe merger of CMW Insurance Services Ltd. and Capri Insurance Services Ltd. creates one of the largest independent, employee-owned insurance brokerages and risk management firms in Western Canada, the companies reported Monday. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, “the merger leverages the…
Severe weather, nat-cats cause record insurable damage in Canada: IBC/CatIQ
January 6, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterSevere weather last year exacted a heavy toll in terms of insured losses, with the $4.9 billion hit dwarfing the previous annual record of $3.2 billion in 2013, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports. Flooding in southern Alberta and the…
Dufferin County offers rebates to property owners who install hurricane straps
December 13, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterDevelopers and property owners in Ontario’s Dufferin County are eligible for rebates if they install hurricane straps in their buildings, a county official says. Hurricane straps, which are metal bands that wrap around trusses and connect to walls, “can largely…
Chubb introduces Cyber COPE, a new model for underwriting cyber insurance
December 13, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterChubb announced on Tuesday that it has introduced Cyber COPE, a new model for underwriting cyber insurance that is intended to simplify and improve the assessment of both cyber and privacy risks. Authored by Ross Cohen, director of cyber/privacy services…