Topic Emerging Risks
Intellectual property insurance can help smaller firms fight competitor lawsuits
January 11, 2022 by Maddi Brown, CFC UnderwritingA shift toward remote work has led businesses of all sizes to focus on the importance of their intellectual property (IP). There is more IP in existence today than ever, and in more areas as companies look for ways to…
Small businesses grappling with Omicron, after two years of closures and restrictions
December 23, 2021 by Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSAs the December holidays neared, the Old Triangle alehouses across the Maritimes were bustling with Christmas parties and diners revelling in the festive season. But that energy vanished in recent days as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 raged across Canada…
No way for average user to know which websites contain software flaw: Experts
December 14, 2021 by Amanda Stephenson - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – Experts say Canadians should use good “cyber hygiene” in light of the discovery of a massive software flaw that has resulted in the precautionary shutdown of thousands of websites. The federal government, the government of Quebec and the…
Diverse coastal protections can help limit storm risk
December 9, 2021 by Canadian Underwriter StaffBoth constructed solutions like dykes and seawalls and greener approaches like saltmarsh restoration and dune replenishment can help combat financial and social costs that result from severe storms, a new report noted. “Rising seas, swollen atmospheric rivers and post-tropical storms…
Do your clients freelance? The right questions will get them proper coverage
December 8, 2021 by Brooke SmithYour clients may love being their own bosses, or they may be self-employed by necessity. “If you look at what’s happening with the gig economy, it seems many [people] are either finding new careers and becoming freelancers or freelancing as…
What can be done just seconds before an earthquake hits?
December 7, 2021 by Jason ContantNatural Resources Canada (NRC) is developing an earthquake early warning system that will provide valuable time before an earthquake strikes to allow protective measures to be put in place for people and critical infrastructure. “It can provide anywhere between seconds…
Challenges remain as IFRS 17 implementation approaches
December 6, 2021 by Jason ContantProject management, system implementation, and accessing resources are the biggest challenges, as the start date of the new insurance accounting standard IFRS 17 nears, Chris Cornell, partner, audit, and national sector leader, insurance, with KPMG in Canada told Canadian Underwriter…
Institutional investors increasingly likely to divest on ESG grounds
December 6, 2021 by Canadian Underwriter StaffLike insurers, Canada’s institutional investors are examining how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors weigh into their operational decisions. A new EY report on global institutional investors that includes Canada showed 74% are more likely to divest from companies with…
Can we blame climate change for B.C. ‘atmospheric river?’
December 2, 2021 by Greg MeckbachWe can’t say for sure that climate change has caused the heavy rainfall and severe floods and landslides currently affecting British Columbia, but global warming is making disasters like this more likely, a Swiss Re speaker suggested Thursday. “Warmer air…
Why cyber risk is frustrating for some insurers
November 25, 2021 by Greg MeckbachCyber insurers are taking a “multi-pronged” approach to ensure they can actually make money off the product. More carriers are expanding their offerings to include cyber, more commercial clients are buying cyber coverage and more insurance buyers are aware of…
What OSFI’s insurance head says about return-to-work
November 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachStaff retention, professional development and the risk of worker isolation are among the factors the industry needs to think about when deciding on an approach to working remote or in the office. “As the pandemic eases and restrictions are lifted,…
Why D&O insurers need to focus on the ‘S’ in ESG
November 9, 2021 by Jason ContantThe ‘S’ pillar of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices should be an increasingly important area of focus for D&O insurers, a specialist insurance provider said recently. While ESG is clearly a hot topic, the environmental and governance pillars have…