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Restaurants want exemption from reduced wage subsidy as Ontario keeps dining shut

May 14, 2021 by The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Restaurant owners say they are concerned about operations as federal subsidies begin to wind down, even as provinces like Ontario extend stay-at-home or lockdown measures. Restaurants Canada is seeking an exemption from the federal government’s scheduled phase-out of

News BrokersInsurersManagementOperationsRisk Managers

Industry exec reverse-engineers innovation to show the imperative of diversity

May 13, 2021 by Adam Malik

A corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) program is essential because it’s driving business innovation, which is a competitive advantage, risk managers heard during a recent web conference. Carla Harris, vice chairman and managing director of Morgan Stanley, spoke at

News BrokersCommercialConstructionCyberMergers and AqcuisitionsOperationsTrending

Gallagher to acquire certain Willis Towers Watson assets

May 12, 2021 by Jason Contant

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has announced an agreement to acquire certain Willis Towers Watson reinsurance, specialty and retail brokerage operations as part of a proposed “regulatory remedy” for the pending Aon and Willis Towers Watson deal. Under the agreement,

News CommercialInsurersManagementOperationsRisk Managers

Aon’s approach to post-pandemic travel and entertainment

May 11, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

As business leaders await an easing of pandemic lockdown restrictions, Aon Plc executives suggest that, going forward, they plan to apply the lessons they’ve learned during COVID-19 regarding collaboration. “We are going to be smart about how we do [travel

News AlbertaBrokersCommercialMergers and AqcuisitionsOntarioOperationsPersonal AutoPersonal HomeSaskatchewan

Merger mania: Multiple brokerage deals announced in May

May 11, 2021 by Jason Contant

May 2021 came in with a bang for Canadian brokerages involved in mergers and acquisitions activity, particularly in western Canada and Ontario.  Over the course of a week, at least seven acquisitions were announced in the Canadian P&C brokerage space.

News BrokersInsurersOperationsTrendingTrusted Advisor

Broker strategies for making it through the hard market

May 11, 2021 by David Gambrill

Brokers are currently caught between a pandemic and a hard market, with several insurers predicting that Canada’s hard market cycle in property and casualty insurance will last at least one or two more years beyond the end of the pandemic.

News BrokersCommercialCommercial AutoInsurersOperations

Brokers cut insurers some slack during the pandemic

May 11, 2021 by David Gambrill

Brokers appear to be cutting their insurer partners a bit of slack during the pandemic, with more brokers agreeing this year that insurers are striking a fair balance between the interests of carriers and brokers. Over the past three years,

News B.C.BrokersEducationManagementOperations

Brokerages will need these new skill sets

May 10, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

To compete in a digital world, the insurance industry needs to hire data scientists and computer programmers, Virtual Symposium B.C. attendees heard last week. “Every insurance organization is going to look at new roles that they never had before,” said

News EducationInsurersLegalLicensingOperationsTechnology

Want a level playing field between tech and insurance? How open banking might help

May 8, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Open banking rules could help create a level playing field between technology companies and the insurance industry, speakers suggested at a recent virtual conference. Bringing in “consumer-directed finance” will help consumers benefit from a broader range of financial products and

News BrokersInsurersMergers and AqcuisitionsOntarioOperations

Mutual insurer group expands with addition of Ontario brokerage

May 5, 2021 by Jason Contant

Collectivfide Insurance Group Inc. has finalized the acquisition of Barrie, Ont.-based multiline broker RK Mooney Insurance Brokers Ltd., the fourth brokerage acquisition for Collectivfide, a company formed in 2019. Collectivfide’s shareholders represent mutual insurers in Ontario and across Canada. Although

News B.C.EducationInsurersOperationsTechnology

How insurers could centralize consumer data — and why they might not

May 5, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The industry could potentially evolve towards an “open insurance strategy,” similar in concept to open banking, whereby consumers allow third parties access to their insurance data, an insurtech CEO suggests. In Europe, open banking gives consumers access to their banking

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Fairfax takes a stand against using COVID as a reason to fire staff

May 3, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The parent company of Northbridge Insurance took a stand against cutting staff due to the pandemic. “One of the things we did last year is we said [to the president of each Fairfax-owned insurer], ‘You cannot use COVID-19 as a