Topic Emerging Risks
What will help reduce farm fire severity?
August 15, 2023 by Jason ContantThe severity of fire losses in the agricultural sector is increasing as Canadian farms get bigger in size and value, but technologies are available to help reduce the frequency of that severity, a farm insurance expert told Canadian Underwriter. In…
Regulator seeks feedback on public warning notices
August 14, 2023 by Jason ContantOntario’s financial services regulator is consulting on proposed guidance for how and when it issues public warning notices. The guidance applies to all sectors (except pensions) regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), which includes property and…
Why your P&C employees are leaving you for your competitor
August 11, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoLosing your employees to other P&C firms? Join the club. A full 38% of financial services and accounting professionals, including within the insurance sector, are already looking or plan to look for a new job before the end of the…
What could cause a ‘nasty’ hurricane season?
August 10, 2023 by Seth Borenstein - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSRecord hot ocean temperatures and a tardy El Nino are doubling the chances of a nasty Atlantic hurricane season this summer and fall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. With the Atlantic hurricane season already well above normal…
Aging infrastructure struggling to keep up with storms, wildfires, changing climate
July 27, 2023 by Hina Alam - THE CANADIAN PRESSFREDERICTON – The torrential rain that washed out roads, bridges and a key rail link in Nova Scotia on the weekend is being described as another sign that engineers cannot rely on past weather patterns to design infrastructure able to…
Can insurers and reinsurers survive looming NatCat trends?
July 21, 2023 by Glenn McGillivrayOne of the hallmarks of a warming world is that you never know what may come next. The reasonably stable climate of the last 100,000 years is being thrown into disarray as Earth’s systems are forced out of kilter. For…
Will reinsurers pass rate increases to consumers?
July 20, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoReinsurers reached a tipping point during their January renewal cycle that saw primary insurers bearing larger-than-usual rate increases. Which had the industry asking: How much of these reinsurance increases will make their way down to consumers? And do insurers have…
Insurer backs away from Alberta auto — could others follow suit?
July 19, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAlberta’s auto insurance rate pause has caused one insurer to back away from the market, with others potentially following suit. The insurer is said to have a market share of less than 0.5% of auto policies in Alberta, a source…
Wildfires: Where there’s smoke, there’s damage
July 18, 2023 by David GambrillAs smoke from almost 900 of Canada’s wildfires descends upon the United States, resurrecting media reports about air quality, Canadian property and casualty insurers have an eye on a different type of exposure — property damage claims due to wildfire…
Has COVID-19 changed restaurant insurance forever?
July 13, 2023 by Jason ContantCanada’s hospitality sector was particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with government-mandated shutdowns and restrictions grinding the industry to a halt. Now, as restaurants return to pre-pandemic foot traffic and revenue levels, the need for insurance solutions and capacity is…
OSFI calls for detailed reporting of insurers’ climate risks
July 12, 2023 by David GambrillCanada’s solvency regulator has published its draft Climate Risk Returns for federally regulated P&C insurance companies, proposing in detail how insurers should be calculating any real and potential climate risks on their books. The forms were created in partnership between…
Quebec landslides bring insurance coverage questions into focus
July 12, 2023 by Jason ContantWith heavy rains triggering flooding and landslides in parts of Quebec, some clients may understandably have questions about which perils are covered under their insurance policies. Certain types of water damage are typically covered, while coverage for overland flooding or…