Topic Loss Trends
Insurers pledge small business help as pressure mounts to address rising rates
October 29, 2020 by The Canadian PressA group representing Canadian insurance companies say it is launching a team that will help small businesses find affordable coverage as rates rise because of the pandemic. The Insurance Bureau of Canada, an association that represents the industry, says the…
5th Top Story in 2020: Intact to exit this line of business
October 28, 2020 by Jason ContantCanada’s largest insurer announced late Tuesday that its brands Intact Insurance and belairdirect will no longer offer optional auto coverage in British Columbia. “This decision was taken after careful consideration, given the upcoming regulatory changes in the province that will…
Bank of Canada holds rate steady, says COVID-19 economic recovery likely by 2022
October 28, 2020 by The Canadian PressOTTAWA – The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate on hold as it says the country’s economy won’t fully recover what was lost to COVID-19 until 2022, with the road to there dependent on the path of…
What this Vancouver plaintiff’s lawyer says about pandemic business interruption coverage
October 27, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia lawyer suggests at least half the business interruption insurance policies he has reviewed should cover a client who lost business because of emergency measures imposed to contain the novel coronavirus. “People who have ‘all-risk’ policies should be…
Ontario promises action to address rising commercial insurance rates, critics urge regulation
October 26, 2020 by Shawn Jeffords - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Under pressure to address rising commercial insurance rates blamed on the pandemic, Premier Doug Ford promised this week to take action to stop what he called “gouging” by some companies in the sector. Ford twice this week has…
How solvency risk has changed since the days of the eight-track tape
October 23, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWhen Bob Tisdale started his career about 40 years ago, insurers were more likely to get into financial trouble. “When I first started in this industry in the early days, I was doing commercial underwriting and there were a lot…
Why reinsurers are now ‘hesitant’ to support some Canadian insurers
October 22, 2020 by Greg MeckbachOne lesson from the economic disruption from COVID-19 is the importance of telling clients exactly what risks are and are not covered, an Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario panelist suggested Thursday. “Business interruption class action litigation does not attract capital…
Still standing
October 22, 2020 by David Gambrill, Editor in ChiefThe P&C industry’s second-quarter earnings reflect the impact of COVID-19. Overall, they tell a story of financial resilience
How auto insurers are promoting National Teen Driver Safety Week
October 20, 2020 by Greg MeckbachTeenagers are 3.1 times more likely to follow too closely than drivers older than 45, Manitoba’s auto insurer is warning. Teens are also 3.6 times more likely to lose control or drive off the road than drivers aged 45 and…
If you thought cyber was hard to sell before…
October 20, 2020 by Adam MalikCyber claims have skyrocketed recently thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relatively young class of business has entered a hard market, meaning that an already-tough-to-sell insurance product may become an even harder sell, according to an expert in the…
How a smart phone can drive efficiency in the claims process
October 19, 2020 by Greg MeckbachUsing a smart phone to take pictures of property damage as soon as it happens could speed up the claims process and reduce fraud risk, the head of a Canadian claims technology vendor suggests. “The best way to drive efficiency…
How COVID-19 has changed cyber underwriting
October 19, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWith loss ratios in the Canadian cyber insurance market skyrocketing, purchasing cyber without having to answer a whole bunch of questions may become a thing of the past. In the recent past, if a client was not very large, or…