Canadian Underwriter

Topic Loss Control

Fraud prevention concept
News ClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksLoss ControlTechnology

How your commercial clients are faring with fraud prevention

March 2, 2023 by Jason Contant

Three-quarters of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Canada experienced fraud within the past year, even though nearly nine in 10 reported having a fraud prevention and response program in place, according to a new survey from KPMG in Canada.

Motorist driving on closes Trans-Canada highway in Abbotsford, BC
News B.C.CatastrophesEnvironmentalInsurersLoss ControlPersonal Home

Window for action on national flood insurance program is now, IBC says

February 24, 2023 by Jason Contant

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is applauding the federal government’s latest disaster assistance for flood recovery costs associated with British Columbia’s costliest severe weather event, but is stressing the urgent need for action on a national flood insurance program. The

Robot sorting documents to represent AI helping insurance adjusters manage claims
News AdjustersBrokersClaimsClaims ProfessionalsClaims TechnologyCommercialHRLiabilityLoss ControlLoss TrendsPersonal AutoPersonal HomePropertyRisk ManagersTechnology

How automation’s shifting on-site claims work to bigger losses

February 23, 2023 by Philip Porado

COVID-19 accelerated development of process efficiencies for insurance adjusters. Pre-pandemic, data-gathering and communications systems began shifting many claims to desk teams, creating efficiencies for adjusters by reserving site visits for complex cases. “What COVID did was expedite some of that

Pump jack in Saskatchewan
News AlbertaClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalLoss ControlLoss TrendsSaskatchewan

Alberta, Saskatchewan methane emissions almost 4 times more than reported: research  

February 21, 2023 by Jason Contant

New research using advanced technology suggests heavy oil facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan are releasing almost four times the amount of a powerful greenhouse gas than they report to government.   The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology,

Driver sleeping in self-driving car
News ClaimsCommercial AutoCyberEmerging RisksInsurersLegalLiabilityLoss ControlLoss TrendsPersonal AutoTechnology

When will self-driving tech consistently prevent crashes?

February 17, 2023 by Harrison Griffiths and Hannah Van Staveren

One aim of autonomous driving technology is to take the human element out of the driving ecosystem with an eye toward preventing collisions. But right now, autonomous driving technology can’t guarantee it will detect and react to road hazards earlier

Bear backing off the bull to represent a volatile stock market
News BrokersClaimsCommercialEmerging RisksInsurersLegalLoss Control

Will volatile stock markets spark claims against asset managers?

February 15, 2023 by Philip Porado

So far, wobbly stock markets aren’t sparking higher claims activity for asset managers’ liability coverages. But the kinds of investor claims that lead to complaints against money managers often lag the equity markets’ overall performance, noted Reid Irwin, practice leader

Nova Scotia vineyard
News AdjustersBrokersBusiness InterruptionClaimsClaims ProfessionalsCommercialEnvironmentalInsurersLoss ControlNova Scotia

Recent extreme cold snap causes ‘devastating’ damage to Nova Scotia vineyards

February 10, 2023 by The Canadian Press

The president of the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia says it will take years for vineyards to recover from the recent extreme cold snap. Steve Ells says between 95 and 100 per cent of Nova Scotia-grown vinifera variety grapes

Woman lamenting as two computer screens show her system has been hacked.
News BrokersCommercialCyberEmerging RisksInsurersLoss Control

Will cyber bonds help reinsurers transfer risk?

February 3, 2023 by Philip Porado

Can reinsurers transfer cyber risk to the capital markets? We may be close to finding out. Recently, two announcements about the issuing of insurance-linked securities (ILS) show there’s a potential to create a broader reinsurance source for cyber risk, said

News B.C.BrokersCatastrophesClaimsEnvironmentalInsurersLoss Control

Meteorologist explains why future NatCat claims won’t get any better

January 27, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

As the climate warms, even predictable weather patterns — like El Niño and La Niña, which are affected by rising sea temperatures — are changing alongside the climate, a weather expert warns.  And that could mean more frequent and severe

Profitability trending toward positive
News CommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalInsurersLoss ControlLoss TrendsTrending

Why P&C industry profitability is trending toward positive

January 23, 2023 by Jason Contant

Canada’s property and casualty insurers should see increased overall profitability and premium rate increases as the industry’s 2023 outlook trends to positive, ratings firm DBRS Morningstar said in a new report. “The credit rating trend for the majority of DBRS

Driver focused on the road
News Loss ControlOntarioPersonal Auto

Should race be used as a rating factor for auto insurance?

January 20, 2023 by Jason Contant

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is trying to determine how auto insurance rating factors affect vulnerable groups given the general lack of data, a senior executive at the regulator said during an industry event Thursday. Brian Sullivan,

Fallen tree damage to the roof of a house
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims ProfessionalsClaims TechnologyConstructionInsurersLoss ControlPersonal AutoPersonal HomeProperty

How adjusters can benefit from putting consumers in control of their claims

January 19, 2023 by Jason Contant

When severe weather events take place, not everything can be fixed overnight. There are only so many contractors and thousands of homes will likely need repairs ranging from major to minor. “It comes down to triaging and putting the insured