Canadian Underwriter

Topic Insurers

A tornado twists across a darkened sky, in a rural field of wheat.
News CatastrophesEnvironmentalInsurers

Is wind the new water?

June 8, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

When a storm hits, it’s no surprise that extreme wind can be a significant driver of insured losses — but wind may actually edge out water as the industry’s costliest weather event, said one industry expert.   “From 2008 to

A man's arm is in the forefront of the photo. He is olding a clipboard and is surrounded by trees
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveClaims TechnologyEnvironmentalInsurers

Aviva Canada’s eco-friendly approach to claims

June 7, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Aviva Canada is piloting an eco-friendly claims process, part of its plan to become a net-zero company by 2040. Notably, the company is mobilizing its efforts to respond to climate change by recycling and sorting materials during the claims process.

A maroon coloured minivan is being hoisted on to a tow truck. A fallen tree is in the forefront of the photo. A man in a yellow vest and a CAT vehicle are in the background.
News AdjustersBusiness InterruptionCatastrophesClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveClaims ProfessionalsEnvironmentalInsurersOntarioPropertyQuebec

How the derecho impacted claims service levels

June 7, 2022 by Jason Contant

It’s only natural claims adjusting service levels will drop, given the large number of claims arising from the derecho that struck parts of Ontario and Quebec in May, says the president of the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA). “Things like

A maroon coloured minivan is being hoisted on to a tow truck. A fallen tree is in the forefront of the photo. A man in a yellow vest and a CAT vehicle are in the background.
News B.C.CatastrophesEnvironmentalInsurersManitobaOntarioQuebec

Becoming better at planning for disasters

June 6, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

If the ongoing flooding in Manitoba and the Ontario/Quebec derecho storm of last month taught us anything, it’s that we must change how we think about natural disasters, argue the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’s Glenn McGillivray, and PhD candidate Korey Pasch,

Aerial view of semi-trucks on a highway
News Commercial AutoInsurersLiabilityNova Scotia

Facility’s new approach to prevent truckers from “gaming the system”

June 6, 2022 by David Gambrill

Nova Scotia has approved Facility Association’s approach to rating commercial auto in a way that trucking operators cannot “game the system” and get Nova Scotia’s lower premium rates when they drive more extensively in other Canadian provinces. Essentially, a “surcharge

Damage from the May 21 derecho in Ontario
News AdjustersCatastrophesClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveEnvironmentalInsurersLicensingOntarioQuebec

Why this province’s approach to adjuster capacity needs to go national

June 6, 2022 by Jason Contant

The president of the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association (CIAA) is hoping other provinces take note of how Ontario’s insurance regulator has approached adjuster capacity and licensing issues following the May 21 derecho that struck Ontario and Quebec. On May 31,

Gas valve on the pipe between the receivers.
News ClaimsCommercialEnvironmentalInsurersLegalLiability

Insurer must defend negligence case, despite pollution exclusion

June 3, 2022 by David Gambrill

Canada’s top court has essentially confirmed that an insurer’s duty to defend in a commercial insurance case involving a pollution exclusion will depend on the cause of the legal action. In refusing to hear an appeal by The Co-operators, the

Cars on a robotic assembly line in a commercial facility.
News BrokersCommercialConstructionEmerging RisksInsurersProperty

Inflation creates need for brokers to revisit coverage levels with their clients

June 3, 2022 by Philip Porado

Brokers are typically leading conversations about inflation-driven insurance value adjustments for commercial building owners and builders, said Bernard McNulty, chief agent and head of claims, Allianz Global Corporate Specialty. But, he added, clients also are contacting brokers to inquire about

semi-truck at night
News CommercialCommercial AutoInsurersLegalOntario

The insurance policy clause that saved this self-insurer

June 2, 2022 by David Gambrill

Clean Harbors Canada, one of largest hazardous waste haulers in North America, is not on the hook to pay the cost of first-party fire damage to a truck owned and operated by one of its contractors, an Ontario court has

Giant waves break near the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.
News CatastrophesClaimsEnvironmentalInsurersNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaP.E.I.

Could hurricanes in Canada worsen?

June 1, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatino

The trend of above-average hurricane seasons is expected to continue this year and Canadian insurers should heed this warning by preparing Atlantic businesses for more severe hurricanes, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook 2022.  “Although Canada

Doctor consulting male patient, working on diagnostic examination of mental illness
News ClaimsInsurersLegalOntarioPersonal Auto

Auto AB claim: Where privacy meets abuse of process

June 1, 2022 by David Gambrill

An Ontario court has rejected the privacy concerns of an auto accidents benefits claimant who refused to attend a psychological examination required by his insurer, finding that the claimant’s privacy concerns amounted to an abuse of process. Ali Baradaran Bagherian

The word 'inflation' written on a keyboard with a Canadian flag
News Insurers

Bank of Canada raises key rate by half a point amid stubbornly high inflation

June 1, 2022 by Christopher Reynolds - THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA – In an unprecedented move, the Bank of Canada has announced a major increase to its key interest rate for the second time in two months as it forecasts higher consumer prices to come this year. The central bank