Topic Environmental
Ontario auditor general finds Niagara Escarpment protections lacking
December 20, 2022 by Allison Jones - The Canadian PressTORONTO – Ontario is not providing enough funding to allow proper protection of the Niagara Escarpment, where nearly all development permit applications have been approved in the last five years, the province’s auditor general says. A recent report by the…
Does Canada have enough hurricane data for parametric solutions?
December 13, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWhen it comes to assessing hurricane risk exposure, there’s a data gap between the U.S and Canada, said a panellist in a Canadian Underwriter webinar. “There’s definitely a gap between the U.S. and Canada,” said Carl Bernier, NatCat specialist at…
P.E.I. utility Maritime Electric estimates cost of Hurricane Fiona
December 13, 2022 by The Canadian PressCHARLOTTETOWN – Prince Edward Island’s electric utility says it will cost about $35 million to repair damage to the company’s distribution system caused by post-tropical storm Fiona. A spokesperson for Maritime Electric said that estimate is based on invoices received…
What’s the better parametric insurance trigger for Canadian hurricanes?
December 12, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoHurricane risk differs in Canada, which is why parametric insurance triggers that work in the U.S. may not be as effective in Canada, said a panellist in a Canadian Underwriter webinar. Barometric pressure may be a better parametric trigger…
Cargo from 2021 spill still washes up on B.C. shores
December 8, 2022 by Ashley Joannou - THE CANADIAN PRESSWhen Jill Laviolette started picking debris off Cape Palmerston beach on Vancouver Island following the container spill from the MV Zim Kingston freighter, the inflatable dinosaur and unicorn toys she pulled from the sand looked nearly pristine. More than a…
Delta, B.C., mayor calls for review of snow alerts after winter maintenance ‘failure’
December 6, 2022 by The Canadian PressDELTA, B.C. – A Metro Vancouver mayor is calling for the B.C. government to review its snow removal contracts and consider using its emergency alert system to better inform drivers of dangerous road conditions. In a letter to Transportation Minister…
What makes the current claims environment so challenging?
December 2, 2022 by Philip PoradoA convergence of global factors will cause above-average levels of claims inflation for the foreseeable future. Claims professionals who spoke with Canadian Underwriter said multiple market-dependent factors – including prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns in China, political instability, labour and materials shortages,…
Traffic mayhem, power outages, plane off taxiway as snow hits B.C. south coast
November 30, 2022 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The first major fall snowstorm to hit British Columbia’s south coast paralyzed traffic, cut power to thousands of homes and even affected Vancouver International Airport as a plane skidded off a taxiway. The snow and freezing temperatures turned…
Canada’s top five federal contaminated sites to cost billions to clean up
November 29, 2022 by Emily Blake - THE CANADIAN PRESSYELLOWKNIFE – With a cost estimate of $4.38 billion, remediation of the Giant Mine, one of the most contaminated sites in Canada, is also expected to be the most expensive federal environmental cleanup in the country’s history. The figure, recently…
Oil and gas drilling sector expects activity to pick up in 2023
November 25, 2022 by Amanda Stephenson - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – The organization representing Canada’s oil and gas drilling sector says it expects more activity in 2023, even as it continues to push the federal government for a new tax credit it says it needs to help the energy…
Hamilton, Ont. mayor calls for investigation after sewer leak went undetected for 26 years
November 23, 2022 by The Canadian PressHamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath is calling for an investigation after city staff discovered a pipe has been dumping sewage into the local harbour undetected for 26 years. Horwath says she has asked the city auditor to be brought in after…
Climate Changed: Rising oceans, storm surges ‘disaster in slow motion’ for coasts
November 22, 2022 by Hina Alam - THE CANADIAN PRESSTides are rising, sands are shifting and coastlines are crumbling. As studies warn of rising seas and accelerated erosion resulting from climate change, coastal communities in Canada are wondering what the future holds. “Living on the coast is part of…