Topic Operations
Return to the office: What these insurance executives say
January 25, 2021 by Greg MeckbachWith the pandemic entering its 11th month, industry leaders are hearing from workers who want more flexibility as to where they work. “We’ve got the majority of [workers] telling us, ‘We would like to spend some time in the office,…
Senior execs to discuss a post-COVID world in the Canadian P&C industry
January 22, 2021 by David GambrillWith the arrival in Canada of vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, it’s now possible for the country’s property and casualty insurance industry to conceive of a post-COVID world. What will the Canadian P&C industry look like after September 2021? (This…
CFIB raises estimate of small businesses at risk of closing permanently
January 22, 2021 by The Canadian PressTORONTO – More than 200,000 Canadian businesses could close permanently during the COVID-19 crisis, throwing millions of people out of work as the resurgence of the virus worsens across much of the country, according to new research. The Canadian Federation…
Open banking in Canada could help insurers with credit scoring
January 20, 2021 by Greg MeckbachOpen banking could give insurers better data for credit scoring, suggests an official with the organization that handles clearing and settlement for banks in Canada. “I think we will see more accurate underwriting and more accurate credit scoring,” Andrew McFarlane,…
RCCAQ reacts to Quebec curfew
January 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachQuebec’s insurance brokers should not experience any major disruptions as a result of the province-wide evening curfew imposed a week ago, the chair of the Regroupement des cabinets de courtage d’assurance du Quebec (RCCAQ) predicts. The curfew took effect on…
How stay-at-home order impacts Ontario brokers
January 15, 2021 by Greg MeckbachSome Ontario brokers still need to work in their bricks-and-mortar offices amid the strict lockdown imposed Thursday by the provincial government. Although many brokerages are digital and have staff working from home, others are at the “opposite end of the…
The role of digital transformation in Westland’s acquisition strategy
January 14, 2021 by Jason ContantExpanded opportunities for digital transformation are one of the key reasons behind Westland Insurance Group Ltd.’s recent acquisition of Storm Insurance Group, Westland told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. British Columbia-based Westland closed its acquisition of Storm Jan. 7. Storm operates under…
How Hub’s leader recommends tackling broker burnout
January 13, 2021 by Adam MalikBrokers of all stripes have been especially taxed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s especially important to make the time to find opportunities to take a break, advised a national brokerage leader. Tina Osen, president of Hub…
What could push Facebook and Amazon into offering insurance
January 12, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf the federal government goes forward with giving fintechs increased access to consumer financial transaction data, this could encourage large tech players like Amazon and Facebook to get into the insurance business, a Canadian P&C expert suggests. “Nobody ever thought…
How many people TD says will soon buy insurance online
January 12, 2021 by Adam MalikCanadian customers may have been slower to adopt to digital options when it comes to insurance in the past but one insurer executive expects the tables to turn rather quickly, predicting half of its customers buying insurance online in the…
Advice for how to go beyond a ‘general commitment’ to diversity and inclusion
January 8, 2021 by Greg MeckbachYour organization may be committed to having a diverse and inclusive workplace, but you may need to go further than that, the Toronto-based Human Resources Professionals Association suggests in a recent report. “A general commitment to diversity and inclusion is…
A primer on business planning for the ‘new normal’ after COVID
January 8, 2021 by David GambrillAs the arrival of vaccines in Canada promise to put an end to the pandemic, insurers and brokers now face the same task as their commercial clients: Creating a business plan for the ‘new normal,’ after the threat of COVID-19…