Topic Emerging Risks
How much B.C.’s catastrophic wildfires will cost insurers
October 4, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoB.C.’s summer wildfires clocked in as the costliest insured event ever recorded in the province, and the tenth costliest insured event in Canada’s history, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said. Wildfires in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions of B.C. will…
B.C. disaster response outdated and inaccessible for evacuees: ombudsperson
October 4, 2023 by Brieanna Charlebois - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Emergency support programs for disaster evacuees in British Columbia are outdated, under-resourced, inaccessible and poorly communicated, according to a report by the province’s ombudsperson. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke’s report on the government’s response to wildfires and severe flooding in…
Help small business clients deter cyberattacks
October 3, 2023 by Jason ContantWhen it comes to cybersecurity in 2023, employees are usually the weakest link, ethical hackers told Canadian Underwriter. This is especially true for smaller businesses, which often have no visibility into their corporate networks, little or no budget for cybersecurity,…
Why captives will stick around after a hard market
September 20, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoCanada’s P&C insurance industry is showing signs of market softening in some lines, but captives remain a viable option for commercial clients — particularly in fledgling tech industries such as cryptocurrency. Alternative risk transfer solutions have merit even when hard…
Forever chemicals: Is PFAS litigation coming to Canada?
September 19, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are the subject of a rising number of lawsuits in the U.S., and the industry can expect litigation to seep into Canada, says a risk professional. Also known as ‘forever chemicals,’ PFAS are a…
Why insurers worry about clients’ crime coverage
September 15, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoAs clients tighten their purse strings in anticipation of an economic downturn, they are increasingly underinsured for their crime-related losses. Crime insurers are seeing an uptick in social engineering (i.e., phishing) claims, says Katherine Gauthier, vice president of specialty solutions…
How potholes lead to serious brain injuries for e-scooter riders
September 8, 2023 by Brittany Sinclair, B.Sc., P.Eng. 30 Forensic EngineeringEditor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series on the biomechanics of rider falls from e-scooters. Part 1 appeared Aug. 25. Road safety is directly linked to maintenance standards. In Ottawa, the city’s recommended maintenance quality standard…
Canada ‘trailing partners’ on securing vital utilities and services: internal memo
September 5, 2023 by Jim Bronskill - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – A newly released federal memo concedes Canada is “trailing key international partners” who have updated their approaches to securing vital utilities and services from a growing array of risks. The Public Safety Canada memo says “new and rapidly…
Fall risks associated with e-scooters
August 25, 2023 by Brittany Sinclair, B.Sc., P.Eng. 30 Forensic EngineeringEditor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on the biomechanics of rider falls from e-scooters. Part 2 will appear next week. Canada’s capital is in the midst of its fourth electric scooter (or e-scooter) pilot program.…
Why secondary perils are of primary concern to insurers
August 25, 2023 by David GambrillSo-called “secondary perils” are now of primary concern for insurers, and the P&C industry needs to change its language and focus accordingly, Moody’s RMS says. Secondary perils include insured damage losses caused by natural catastrophes such as wildfires, hail or…
Grapes of wrath: How the wildfires could burn your winery clients
August 25, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAs wildfires rage across Canada, wineries might struggle to keep smoke from tainting their crops. Such was the case for wineries operating in and around southern Oregon in 2020, said Heidi Moore, insurance agent for U.S-based Country Financial and host…
What the Nova Scotia floods cost insurers
August 24, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoA flood and rainstorm event that hit Nova Scotia in July is estimated to have caused over $170 million in insured damage, according to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). The atmospheric river event dropped more than…