Topic Legal
Clarifying Nativelands: What the decision means to brokers
October 11, 2023 by Stephen F. Gleave, partner, DLA Canada (Toronto)Canadian Underwriter published an article on Sept. 19, 2023, entitled “Court draws distinction between a brokerage and a consultant.” The article deals with an important decision of Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward Morgan released on July 25, 2023. The matter…
Grand Theft Auto: P&C industry sounds the alarm
October 11, 2023 by David GambrillAuto theft costs in 2023 are projecting to break record levels established in 2022, P&C insurance professionals are warning. A recent survey by Équité Association shows auto theft in Ontario increased by 31% year-over-year in the first half of 2023.…
Is FSRA planning to license aggregators?
October 6, 2023 by Philip PoradoOntario’s insurance regulator has confirmed it is considering whether or not aggregators need to be licensed. Since August, when Ontario’s financial services regulator issued a report outlining concerns about auto insurers’ compliance with take-all-comers requirements, Canada’s P&C insurance industry has…
Tips for insuring properties worth more than $500 million
October 2, 2023 by Philip PoradoCoverage for high-value real estate, defined as sites worth $500 million or more, is often based as much on how those sites are used as on the physical assets themselves. Multi-use sites, where activities like manufacturing, distribution, logistics and management…
How insurance helps when converting office buildings to housing
September 29, 2023 by Philip PoradoCanada’s housing crisis has deepened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. And when office vacancy rates across Canada topped 17% in 2022 Q4, calls grew louder to convert some of that unused commercial space into residential units. What’s more,…
Why you might need a diversity, equity and inclusion partner
September 28, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoNeed some help with your brokerage’s efforts to develop a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace? Consider partnering with another organization to create recruiting or other interim partnerships, suggested Craig Pinnock, chief financial officer of Northbridge Financial Corporation. “These are the…
Why this address misrepresentation ruling was set aside
September 27, 2023 by Jason ContantOntario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) erred in law when ruling it had to rely solely on the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) and had no jurisdiction to award equitable remedies under the Insurance Act, a provincial court has found. In…
What’s contributing to rising auto premiums in Alberta?
September 26, 2023 by Jason ContantLitigation costs stand out as a major contributor to premiums drivers pay in Alberta, according to a new report from accounting firm MNP. Legal costs in Alberta’s auto insurance system have risen 31% since 2018 and account for roughly 20%…
How Canada’s brokers can move the needle on DEI
September 26, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoDon’t have the resources to embark on large-scale diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs? You can still get started by simply committing your brokerage to change. “If you’re a small brokerage, maybe you don’t have the resources, I think the…
Brokers: Is your client’s dog “friendly?”
September 25, 2023 by David GambrillWhen two dog owners pass each other while walking their dogs, it is common to hear one ask of the other’s dog, “Friendly?” Perhaps that’s what personal lines home insurance brokers should be asking their dog-owning clients, since lawsuits against…
How well the industry protects policyholders against insolvency
September 22, 2023 by Jason ContantCanada’s P&C insurance industry compensation fund will almost entirely protect both personal and commercial lines policyholders in the event of an insurer insolvency, a comprehensive review of coverage and benefits has found. Should an insurer member of the Property and…
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…