Canadian Underwriter

Topic Property

Construction site accident
News ClaimsCommercialConstructionLegalLiabilityProperty

Who’s responsible when construction projects go wrong

March 13, 2024 by By Dr. Yasser Korany, KSI Engineering

Construction project delays can expose commercial insurers to significant claims costs. Canada’s property and casualty insurance market collected more than $748 million in direct written premiums for surety bonds in 2022, per Canada’s solvency regulator, the Office of the Superintendent

Edmonton City Hall
News AlbertaClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveCommercialLegalProperty

Edmonton City Hall attack supports terror charges: RCMP 

March 7, 2024 by The Canadian Press

Mounties say they believe an attack on Edmonton City Hall in January was politically motivated, meaning it reaches the legal threshold for terrorism charges.  Supt. Glenn Sells of the RCMP’s national security team said Tuesday that officers had seized an

Damage after a load fell from a crane in Vancouver
News B.C.ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveCommercialConstructionEmerging RisksProperty

Crane accidents ‘a huge concern’ after fourth incident in Metro Vancouver

March 6, 2024 by Chuck Chiang and Brenna Owen – The Canadian Press

In 30 years of working in construction, Josh Towsley says this is a first, after Metro Vancouver saw its fourth crane accident since the start of the year. “I’ve been involved in construction since I was 19 years old …

Electrical outlet on fire.
News ClaimsEmerging RisksInsurersLoss TrendsPersonal HomeProperty

Managing insurer concerns about knob-and-tube wiring

February 21, 2024 by Brian Cook, PowerCheck

Most insurers see homes with knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, and 60-amp service as high-risk, which prevents clients with those systems from easily obtaining home insurance. But are wiring types and service levels really the culprits causing fires? I’ve examined electrical

Engineer using thermal camera to inspect home
News CommercialConstructionInsurersPersonal HomeProperty

Co-operators acquires home inspection firm

February 16, 2024 by Jason Contant

The Co-operators has entered the home services line of business with the acquisition of the parent company of home inspection firm Carson Dunlop & Associates Ltd. Co-operators Financial Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Co-operators Group Limited, announced the

Snowplow clearing the streets
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveEnvironmentalNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaPersonal HomeProperty

Blizzard-like conditions expected in Newfoundland

February 15, 2024 by The Canadian Press

Schools in Newfoundland’s capital are closed today, due to the threat of inclement winter weather. The head office for NLSchools in St. John’s will be open, but officials say not until 11:00 a.m. local time. This week’s hazardous winter conditions

Ice fishing huts in Quebec
News Emerging RisksEnvironmentalPropertyQuebec

Warm weather forces city in Quebec to cancel ice-fishing villages for first time

February 13, 2024 by The Canadian Press

SAGUENAY, QUE. – There will be no colourful ice-fishing huts dotting the frozen water near Saguenay, Que., this year after mild winter weather forced authorities to cancel the popular tradition for the first time. The municipality about 200 kilometres north

E-scooter accidents are going to cause problems for Canadian cities because of vague insurance rules and lax enforcement.
News ClaimsEmerging RisksInsurersLegalLiabilityLoss TrendsPersonal AutoPersonal HomeProperty

Lax e-scooter insurance spells trouble for Canadian municipalities

February 12, 2024 by Philip Porado

Based on what’s taking place in other jurisdictions, lawsuits over accidents involving e-scooters will likely rise in Canada – particularly in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, where some municipalities permit their use on public streets, park trails, or sidewalks. Municipalities

Emergency warning alert on a smartphone
News B.C.CatastrophesClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveEnvironmentalPropertyQuebec

When the national earthquake early warning system goes live

February 8, 2024 by Jason Contant

Canada’s national earthquake early warning system is expected to go live in British Columbia in April followed by Ontario and Quebec this fall, a program manager for the federal government told delegates at CatIQ Connect Wednesday. The system works by

Illustration of 12 monthly calendars through all of 2024
News CommercialEmerging RisksInsurersLoss ControlProperty

What needs to happen for a smooth 2025 reinsurance renewal season

February 7, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Momentum from this year’s favourable reinsurance renewal can continue into 2025 if outlying conditions and losses don’t exceed expectations, panellists said during Cat IQ Connect in Toronto.  Although it’s too early to make assertions about how the next 1.1 renewal

3D rendering of Hurricane Fiona over Nova Scotia
News CatastrophesClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveEmerging RisksEnvironmentalNova ScotiaPersonal HomeProperty

Do we need a Category 6 for hurricanes?

February 6, 2024 by Jason Contant

Two climate scientists are questioning whether the open-endedness of Category 5 hurricanes is sufficient to communicate the risk of hurricane property damage in a warming climate. Michael Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and James Kossin of First

Female leader mountain climber is celebrating her success and watching the beautiful scenery of forest and mountain range
News B.C.BrokersCatastrophesClaimsInsurersLoss TrendsNew BrunswickNewfoundland & LabradorNova ScotiaOntarioP.E.I.Personal AutoPersonal HomePropertyQuebecSaskatchewan

Home, auto rate increases in 2023 “highest…seen in years.”

January 26, 2024 by David Gambrill

Canadian auto insurance rates increased 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, and similarly home insurance rates saw an increase as well — up 6.6% last year, according to the latest release of the Applied Rating Index. “The close of 2023