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Westland brokerage moves in an easterly direction
November 13, 2020 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance’s mergers and acquisition strategy continues in an easterly direction from its roots in British Columbia. Just days after closing its first-ever brokerage acquisition in Ontario, Westland Insurance Group Ltd. announced its second acquisition in Manitoba. On Nov. 10,…
Hard market is trickling down to condo unit owners
November 13, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe hard market in commercial property coverage for condo corporations is having an impact on individual condo and strata unit owners, new data from LowestRates.ca shows. Personal property rates for condo unit owners increased 16% year-over-year in both Alberta and…
Today’s cat losses ‘unimaginable’ even 10 years ago: mutual CEO
November 12, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe increase in cat losses over the past 10 years alone is high on the radar for Canada’s mutual insurers and has the industry calling for measures to help adapt properties to severe weather. “We have seen weather and wildfire…
Can a strata lot owner launch a subrogated water claim on behalf of its insurer?
November 11, 2020 by David GambrillWe’ve all heard about an insurer launching a subrogated claim on behalf of its insured, but how about an insured launching a subrogated claim on behalf of its insurer? B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal, a type of small claims court, recently…
One essential thing required for condo premium relief
November 10, 2020 by Adam MalikClients don’t always know the process when they have to report a condo insurance claim, and a number of property and casualty insurance professionals believe education of condo managers and boards is key to turning around the hard market in…
Brokerage M&A round-up: Which four were bought?
November 9, 2020 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia-based Westland Insurance Group Ltd. has moved into the Ontario market, announcing that it has acquired Gillons Insurance Brokers Ltd. The “significant and substantial milestone” supports Westland’s expansion strategy to become a national insurance brokerage, the brokerage said when…
What historical insured catastrophe losses really mean
November 4, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf you take a deep dive into the real cost to Canadians of insured major natural disasters, even though the methodology changed around 2008, it still shows a long-term trend of claims cost increases over nearly 40 years, industry experts…
How COVID could change adjusting for good
October 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the way property insurance clients want their claims handled, a technology vendor suggests. “COVID has been the awakening for many companies,” said James Swayze, Toronto-based executive for Canada at CoreLogic Inc. After COVID-19 was…
What brokers are looking at to help condo corporations reduce deductibles
October 29, 2020 by David GambrillBrokers working in the condo insurance class of business are looking at creative ways to help their condo corporation clients shoulder the burden of much higher deductibles — including preliminary discussions around the option of “buy-down” deductibles. “As a broker,…
First the industry mandated fire detectors. Now should it require water detectors?
October 27, 2020 by Adam MalikAn abundance of technology is available to prevent water damage in condo buildings, but panellists of a recent Canadian Underwriter webinar questioned why it’s not being mandated or put to use as condo claims continue to increase. Existing technology such…
Gushing over oil storage
October 18, 2020 by Michael Freill, President, Mark 1 EngineeringHow Canada’s P&C insurers plugged a regulatory hole that exposed the industry to millions of dollars in claims every year
Appeal court spells out difference between an ‘omission’ and a ‘misrepresentation’ on an insurance form
October 8, 2020 by David GambrillB.C.’s Court of Appeal overturned a decision Wednesday against BCAA Insurance Corporation in a case that turned on the crucial difference between an “omission” and a “misrepresentation” in a home insurance application. Ultimately, the B.C. Court of Appeal ordered a…