What’s New: In Brief (March 30, 2007)

In response to growing concerns about the threat of identity theft, The Co-operators announced it has extended identity theft coverage to clients with home or farm insurance. The new coverage reimburses clients for up to Cdn$10,000 of costs associated with recovering or correcting damage to their personal identity. Insured expenses include legal fees and costs associated with notarizing affidavits, re-applying for loans, calling or faxing long distance, and sending certified mail. It also covers up to Cdn$2,000 in lost earnings for clients who need to take time off work to recover their identity. Recent research indicated that 70% of our clients were concerned about having their identities stolen and used for criminal purposes, Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-Operators, said in a statement.

The Co-Operators have donated a Bullard T4 thermal imaging camera to the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service with a contribution from Staying Alive Inc. The imaging device is used to identify sources of heat in burning buildings. The hottest objects are tagged with blue spot colour, while the Super Red Hot feature allows firefighters to see heat levels by colour. Digital zoom, 2X and 4X, provides improved visibility in applications including hazardous materials, wildfire and search and rescue operations.