Topic Personal Home
Advice from the U.S.: Canada needs exit strategy from national flood
March 4, 2021 by Greg MeckbachCanada needs to proceed with caution if it wants to establish a taxpayer-supported program to write flood insurance for high-risk homes, an American speaker warned the Canadian P&C industry during CatIQ Connect. “Be very careful with a federal flood insurance…
Lessons learned from ‘the toughest Cat season’
March 2, 2021 by Adam MalikThe COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult at times for insurers to work through natural catastrophes, said a Wawanesa executive during a recent web conference. But they’ve learned a few lessons because of it. As Cats stormed through Alberta to the…
Condo corporation insurance? Unit insurance? Too many condo owners don’t know the difference
February 24, 2021 by David GambrillBrokers in Quebec have ample opportunity to educate their clients about how condo insurance works, according to the results of a recent survey commissioned by Insurance Bureau of Canada. One key source of confusion may sound familiar to brokers elsewhere…
Probe points to discarded smoking materials as likely cause of B.C. apartment building fire
February 24, 2021 by The Canadian PressABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Improperly discarded smoking materials likely played a part in a recent fire in an Abbotsford, B.C., apartment building that left more than 100 people homeless. Assistant chief Ron Hull, with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Services, says the extent…
3 Canadian cities more prepared for flood now than they were five years ago
February 19, 2021 by Jason ContantThere’s good and bad news when it comes to the flood preparedness of 16 major Canadian cities. The bad news is that the average level of flood preparedness has remained stagnant from 2015 to 2019-20, showing a considerable margin for…
Property restoration space has ‘big capacity’ issue: Brindamour
February 19, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIntact Financial Corp. is aiming to build capacity in what CEO Charles Brindamour calls the “super-fragmented” restoration contractor industry. “Our thought process with On Side [Restoration] is very much consistent with what we tried to do with BrokerLink a decade…
How to increase the take-up of earthquake insurance
February 18, 2021 by Jason ContantWhen broader government assistance is available for earthquake insurance, the take-up rates for private earthquake insurance appear to be suppressed, according to a new study on the difference between earthquake insurance rates in B.C.’s Lower Mainland and neighbouring Washington State…
What’s making it harder to estimate property Cat claims
February 17, 2021 by Greg MeckbachRecent price increases in building materials means it is harder than normal to predict the cost of repairing property damage, restoration experts say. Restoration contractor Peak Services handled several thousand claims after the June 13, 2020, record hail storm in…
How brokers can help personal cyber go mainstream
February 16, 2021 by Adam MalikAlthough it will take some time, selling personal cyber insurance will come as naturally to brokers as selling home and auto insurance to customers, an expert predicts. Until that happens, however, it’s up to brokers to make sure that personal…
One knock-off effect of rising condo deductibles
February 16, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA large increase in deductibles on condo corporations’ insurance is starting to put pressure on individual condo owners’ premiums, a new report from LowestRates.ca shows. “When a deductible goes up – say from $20,000 a year to $100,000, or $200,000…
Brokerage executives to examine COVID impact today and beyond
February 8, 2021 by Adam MalikBrokers have been on the front lines while the global COVID-19 pandemic has tightened its grip on the economy and, in turn, brokers’ clients. Four leading national brokerage executives will take a look at what Canadian brokers can expect as…
Deal Tracker: The latest in brokerage M&A
February 4, 2021 by Jason ContantThe number of mergers and acquisitions in the Canadian P&C insurance space (mostly involving brokerages) has hit double digits already this year, with two large brokerages contributing to the latest round of deal-making. Hub International announced Tuesday that it had…