Canadian Underwriter

Topic Insurers

The McDougall Creek fire in B.C.
News B.C.CatastrophesClaimsEmerging RisksEnvironmentalInsurers

Heavy rain aids in tempering B.C. wildfires in Shuswap, Okanagan regions

August 24, 2023 by The Canadian Press

Firefighters in British Columbia’s southern Interior continue to battle a number of major blazes, having been aided by ample rainfall that fell Wednesday over the Okanagan and Shuswap regions. B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Forrest Tower says one weather station

Donnie Creek wildfire in B.C.
News AdjustersCatastrophesClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalInsurersLoss ControlPersonal Home

How much insurers can expect to pay for Canadian wildfires

August 23, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Canadian insurers could see between $700 million and $1.5 billion in insured losses from this summer’s wildfire season, DBRS Morningstar predicts in new commentary.  Despite the high loss figures, the claims incurred in 2023 Q3’s wildfire season will be manageable

Smoke from wildfires fills the sky in Yellowknife
News CatastrophesClaimsEnvironmentalInsurersNWTPersonal Home

Yellowknife mayor says it’s too unsafe for residents to return to the capital city

August 23, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

YELLOWKNIFE — The mayor of Yellowknife says it’s not safe for residents to go home to the territorial capital, but notes city officials are working on a return plan as a fire continues to burn about 15 kilometres away. Most

Paper airplane on blue background
News BrokersInsurers

Don’t forget to make sure your client’s policy is in force

August 22, 2023 by David Gambrill

A B.C. broker, his brokerage, and the brokerage’s representative nominee were collectively fined $7,500 for a procedural mix-up that left a client unknowingly without a policy in force for a year. The broker, Amrit Singh Sidhu, received a $5,000 fine

A helicopter carrying water flies over heavy smoke from an out-of-control fire in a suburban community outside of Halifax.
News CatastrophesClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalInsurers

How wildfires are affecting some of Canada’s largest P&C insurers

August 22, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Despite facing a heavy loss year and an unusually active wildfire season, four of Canada’s publicly traded P&C companies — Intact Financial Corporation, Fairfax Financial Holdings, Definity Financial Corporation and Trisura Group Ltd. — reported positive underwriting profits thus far,

AI chat bot answering customer questions
News BrokersEmerging RisksHRInsurersTechnology

Will generative AI impact your career prospects?

August 22, 2023 by Philip Porado

Will generative artificial intelligence (AI) make your skill sets obsolete? If you answered yes, you have the same belief as 17% of Canadian workers recently surveyed by recruiting and business consulting firm Robert Half. Survey respondents worked in occupations ranging

Forest fire near Kelowna, B.C.
News B.C.CatastrophesClaimsEnvironmentalInsurers

Almost 60 buildings lost to wildfire in Kelowna, B.C., area, fire chiefs say

August 22, 2023 by Dirk Meissner The Canadian Press

A West Kelowna man says he is still in shock after the wildfire tearing through the region burned down his condo and forced him and his eight-months-pregnant wife to evacuate twice in one night. Randy Miskuski said his family had

News B.C.CatastrophesClaimsInsurersPersonal HomeProperty

What P&C industry can expect from Kelowna wildfires

August 21, 2023 by David Gambrill

In an eerie coincidence, almost 20 years to the day wildfires caused $200 million in insured damage back in 2003, Kelowna is burning once again. About 30,000 people in the southern Interior region of B.C. — about a third of

Judge gavel with Justice lawyers having team meeting at law firm in background.
News Emerging RisksHRInsurersLegalLiability

Ontario adjudicator, Aviva targets of “conflict-of-interest” complaints

August 18, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

The Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) filed formal complaints this month against Aviva Canada and Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) adjudicator Thérèse Reilly, alleging the adjudicator was in a “conflict of interest” when she continued adjudicating LAT tribunal panels in insurance

Man looking through binoculars out of office window, low angle view
News CommercialCommercial AutoInsurers

Aviva Canada CEO’s take on the commercial lines market

August 17, 2023 by David Gambrill

Canada’s commercial lines market is starting to become more competitive in certain segments after a few years of a hard market during the post-COVID period, Aviva Canada’s CEO observes. But future economic uncertainty suggests insurers aren’t yet ready to plunge

Comparing which car type to rent on a tablet.
News InsurersOntarioPersonal AutoTechnology

Digital-first firms partner on car-share coverage

August 17, 2023 by Canadian Underwriter Staff

Digital auto and home insurance provider Onlia has partnered with car-subscription service Roam to provide its Ontario customers with personalized rates and a faster checkout when picking up cars. In addition to vehicles, Roam’s pay-as-you-go subscriber plan members are provided

Car wrecked by a tornado.
News ClaimsInsurersLoss TrendsPersonal AutoPersonal Home

What’s trending in auto loss combined ratios

August 16, 2023 by Philip Porado

Some Canadian auto insurers may be experiencing fewer losses than their U.S. counterparts, a new report from ratings agency Fitch suggested. A mid-year review of U.S. personal auto segment results, based on filings for nine public company insurers that report