Canadian Underwriter will host a free webinar exploring how brokers’ business continuity plans have responded and will continue to respond during the unfolding drama of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Scheduled for 1 pm EST on Wednesday, Apr. 22, the panel…
The COVID-19 pandemic was one of three “black swans” to hit the industry so far in 2020 but despite the uncertainty and panic, things will return to normal, suggests Prem Watsa, CEO of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. “The U.S.…
If your clients are buying or selling a home, they can still get it inspected despite the pandemic, but one professional notes the volume of business is down. “For close to a month, we have been working in what I…
If laws get passed retroactively changing business interruption policy wording so that pandemic losses now get covered, insurers will likely launch legal challenges that will be looked at by high court judges, Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa suggests. During Fairfax’s…
High winds affecting various areas in Eastern Canada Monday will not necessarily result in a catastrophe event for property insurers, but it’s too early to tell for sure. Early Environment Canada forecasts suggested the storm could potentially lead to the…
Believe it or not, some commercial clients expect business interruption insurance to cover loss of income if the business gets interrupted, even if the cause of the interruption is a pandemic. Regina restaurant owner Thomas Siarkos is one such client.…
Despite the massive disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Intact Financial Corp. is keeping its eye on potential mergers. “We want to make sure we have capital ready to be deployed for growth – both organic and through mergers and acquisitions,”…
Brokers advising commercial clients that business interruption is not usually covered during a pandemic should not be surprised if those clients are hearing something different from their lawyers. “I would caution policyholders to thoroughly review their specific policy language before…
If your clients are temporarily closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this might be a good time for them to undertake some repairs and let the fire department know they are reducing on-site staff, advises commercial insurer FM Global. “Countless…
Brokerages who are running into computer or telephone problems because they sent workers home during the pandemic could get useful tips from major technology vendors. For example, Extreme Networks Inc. advises its own workers not to rely on their WiFi…
Accident benefits clients who are seriously injured could be running into issues with attendant care benefits because of the social distancing precautions in effect with the COVID-19 pandemic. FAIR Association of Victims for Accident Insurance Reform has heard that some…
The Canadian property and casualty industry is well-positioned to withstand the financial pressures exerted by COVID-19, but A.M. Best Company is nevertheless concerned about commercial premiums dropping due to business closures and coverage disputes over business interruption. “In Canadian P&C,…