Canadian Underwriter

Topic Ontario

Online car insurance
News AlbertaBrokersInsurersOntarioPersonal AutoQuebec

Brokerage, carrier partner up to offer digital auto coverage

November 7, 2023 by Jason Contant

Square One Insurance Services and Zurich Canada have partnered to offer personal auto insurance to Ontario drivers, with a Quebec and Alberta rollout planned for early 2024. “What sets this offering apart is our fully digital experience that allows our

Car thief trying to break into a car
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveInsurersLegalOntarioPersonal Auto

Why Ontario thinks auto theft needs a federal approach

November 3, 2023 by Jason Contant

Ontario’s provincial government is urging a federal and multi-jurisdictional approach to combat auto theft in Canada. In its 2023 Fall Economic Statement released Thursday, the government called for the Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP, Montreal and Halifax port authorities, as

Farm in rural Ontario
News CommercialEmerging RisksEnvironmentalOntarioProperty

Will building code changes affect farm fire severity?

November 2, 2023 by Jason Contant

With changes from the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) in the process of becoming law in Ontario next spring, farm insurance experts are raising concerns that the maximum barn size restriction will be removed and Ontario’s Fire Code (OFC)

Concept of secure medical records
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveCommercialCyberOntarioTechnology

Ontario hospitals warn stolen patient, employee data may be published  

November 2, 2023 by The Canadian Press

Five Ontario hospitals affected by a recent ransomware attack, along with their shared IT provider, are warning patients and staff that their data may be published.   The attack caused an outage of some online services at Bluewater Health, Chatham-Kent Health

Merger and acquisition business concept
News BrokersMergers and AqcuisitionsOntario

McFarlan Rowlands acquires two brokerages

November 1, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers Inc. today announced the acquisition of McConville Omni Insurance Brokers Ltd. and T.G. Colley & Sons Ltd.  These acquisitions enable McFarlan Rowlands to expand in the southwestern Ontario region, the brokerage said in a release.  

Hurricane Fiona
News B.C.ClaimsInsurersLoss ControlLoss TrendsNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioP.E.I.Personal AutoPersonal HomePropertyQuebec

Coastal storms: Could U.S. scenario happen here?

November 1, 2023 by Philip Porado

Increasing intensity of hurricanes making landfall along the U.S. coastline, sparked largely by climate change, has resulted in significant insured losses for several years. And storms seem to be getting worse. That trend impacts insurability and, going forward, “property values

Office worker who has fallen on a staircase
News AlbertaB.C.ClaimsCommercialConstructionEmerging RisksInsurersLegalLiabilityLoss ControlOntarioQuebec

How to build environments that reduce staircase injuries

October 31, 2023 by By Dr. Andrew Huntley and Claire Miller, 30 Forensic Engineering

As research drives new ways to build staircases that can prevent slip-and-falls, Canada’s building codes should be updated accordingly to reflect the safer designs. The importance of code updates is illustrated by falls on stairs, which in Ontario alone led

M&A concept
News BrokersInsurersManagementMergers and AqcuisitionsOntarioOperations

Why McFarlan Rowlands decided to sell

October 27, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

A desire for scale, coupled with a rapid succession of shareholder retirements, compelled McFarlan Rowlands to sell to a subsidiary of Definity earlier this year, a senior exec told the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Ontario’s annual convention in Toronto.  

Cooperation partnership, work together for success, team collaboration, agreement or negotiation, collaborate concept, businessmen handshake on growth arrow joining connection agree to work together.
News B.C.InsurersMergers and AqcuisitionsMGAsOntario

Accelerant scoops up Omega Insurance Holdings

October 27, 2023 by David Gambrill

Accelerant Holdings U.K. Ltd. has officially entered the Canadian property and casualty insurance market, closing the deal to acquire Omega Insurance Holdings Inc. from Till Capital Corporation. Accelerant will pay Till Capital approximately $13 million Cdn in exchange for all

Parking lot sign of electric vehicle charging station
News B.C.BrokersCommercial AutoInsurersNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioPersonal AutoQuebec

Why auto insurance concerns might hinder electric vehicle adoption

October 26, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatino

As governments gear up for a national push toward electric vehicles (EVs), Canadians are harbouring anxieties about their auto insurance policies.  Seventy eight per cent of Canadians are concerned about the cost of their insurance premiums on an electric vehicle,

Business people shaking hands in the office. Photo of one cheerful businessman and one happy businesswoman handshaking in the board room. The view is through glass.
News HRLicensingOntarioOperations

Make sure your talent recruiter is licensed — or else!

October 25, 2023 by David Gambrill

If your Ontario P&C business is using a recruiter or temporary staffing organization to find talent, make sure they’re licensed as of Jan. 1, 2024. Otherwise, you may be subject to a hefty fine in the New Year. As of

Home with truck outside
News AlbertaB.C.ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioP.E.I.Personal AutoPersonal HomeQuebecSaskatchewan

Where auto and home insurance rates are headed

October 24, 2023 by Jason Contant

Hard market conditions in personal lines across Canada are not slowing down in 2023 Q3, according to data from tech vendor Applied Systems. Auto and homeowner premiums are rising year-over-year in all provinces.  In 2023 Q3, personal auto premiums in