Keyword
Ontario
Intact loses court battle over voiding auto policy for misrepresentation
September 26, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf an Ontario auto insurer discovers a client made a material misrepresentation or non-disclosure in its application, could the insurer treat the policy as invalid to being with? Not now. Or at least, not if the fact situation is the…
‘Boilerplate’ reasons for denying auto claims don’t cut it: Court
September 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s Divisional Court ruled this week against Aviva Canada, which wants to challenge a Licence Appeal Tribunal ruling in favour of an auto accident benefits claimant. The case involves how Aviva denied the claim, which was to check a box…
Ontario auto changes could be ‘slow to implement’
September 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOntario may have a new auto insurance regulator, but don’t expect conditions in that market to improve overnight, A.M. Best Company Inc. suggested in a report released Thursday. “Measures to improve market and competitive conditions will likely be slow to…
Insurers spar after passenger grabs steering wheel, causing accident
August 22, 2019 by Greg MeckbachShould a motorist be liable if a front-seat passenger deliberately grabbed the wheel and took control, causing an accident? Insurers debate this, but judges say a client in this situation should not be liable. In McKay v. Park, released Monday,…
How old Ontario auto cat claims affect Intact’s bottom line
July 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s largest P&C insurer has been taken by surprise by the number of old Ontario auto claims in which accident victims are trying to get benefits for catastrophic impairment. Ontario changed its catastrophic impairment definition for accidents occurring on or…
Top court cuts down “apples” approach to tort award reduction
July 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAdjusters and insurance defence lawyers who think the “apples-to-apples” approach to deducting future no-fault benefits from tort awards is rotten will likely find relief in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling released Thursday. Canada’s top court announced July 11 it…
Does anyone still believe that $200,000 is enough auto liability coverage?
July 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAlthough Ontario motorists can legally put their vehicles on the road with as little as $200,000 in liability coverage, brokers likely wouldn’t want one of those motorists for a client. “There is no way you can justify why you sold…
How budget cuts will affect flood risk mitigation
June 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachFlood risk mitigation in Ontario could start to depend a lot more on the willingness of corporations and individuals to donate money to the conservation authorities. “The conservation authorities are going to have to make a better case for outreach…
Intact ready to work with new Alberta government, likes Ontario budget
May 8, 2019 by Adam MalikAll signs point to positive for Intact when it comes to working with Alberta’s new government. Jason Kenney led the United Conservative Party to victory in April, returning a Conservative government to power after four years of rule by the…
What auto insurance brokers should keep in mind if cash settlements are banned
May 3, 2019 by Greg MeckbachBrokers need to understand both the upside and downside to a “care not cash” clause in an accident benefits policy so clients can choose an option that fits their needs, says an Ontario auto insurance expert. The Ontario government is…
Ontario’s ‘most encouraging statement about auto insurance’ in 35 years
April 30, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe recent Ontario budget document is giving some insurers hope that the government will actually fix the province’s auto insurance system. “Many people have said that the comprehensive package contained in the budget is frankly the most encouraging statement about…
Auto ‘very difficult policy to understand,’ says broker-turned-parliamentarian
April 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe Ontario government wants to make the auto claims process easier to navigate and less cumbersome, a politician who used to be a broker told the legislature last week. “Today when someone has an accident, they are assigned an adjuster,”…