News
Canada tops U.S. in car theft rates
January 4, 2002 by Canadian UnderwriterStudies by Statistics Canada and the FBI show Canada is actually outpacing the U.S. in terms of auto theft. Based on 2000 figures, Canada averages 521 vehicle thefts per 100,000 people, 26% higher than the U.S. rate of 414. This…
Insurers lose on “preferred shop” appeal
January 2, 2002 by Canadian UnderwriterA decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal could limit insurers’ ability to recommend preferred collision shops to their claimants. The Court is overturning a lower court judgement from November 1999, and saying that Toronto’s new Collision Reporting Centres bylaw…
Hub sells subsidiaries to Fairfax
January 2, 2002 by Canadian UnderwriterBroker consolidator Hub International Ltd. (TSE: HBG), is set to sell two of its properties to its own largest shareholder. U.S.-based underwriting subsidiaries Old Lyme Insurance Company of Rhode Island and Old Lyme Insurance Company Ltd. (“Old Lyme”) will be…
Canadian Underwriter and canadianunderwriter.ca Launch Free Insurance News Alert Service
January 1, 2002 by Canadian UnderwriterWelcome to your first edition of Canadian Underwriter magazine and canadianunderwriter.ca’s new Email News Alert Service for the Insurance Industry, called “At Your Personal Request”. This FREE Breaking News Alert Service will keep the market informed of the latest Insurance…
No US terror pool in place before yearend
December 21, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterWith the U.S. Congress adjourning for the year, there will be no terrorism risk pool in place as insurers head into the new year, when most commercial policies come up for renewal. Congress gave up the ghost when the U.S.…
Global catastrophes top US$115 billion, study reveals
December 21, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterOn a worldwide scale, catastrophes both man-made and natural resulted in losses of more than US$115 billion, costing insurers more than US$32 billion, in 2001, says a study from Swiss Re. The US$115 billion figure is three times that of…
Fin institutions launch national consumer ombudsman service
December 20, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterAll of the major sector players operating in the Canadian financial services environment from banks, life insurers, property and casualty insurers, health insurers, investment dealers and mutual funds have co-founded a new national consumer ombudsman office. The National Financial Services…
Travelers out of Citigroup umbrella
December 19, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterCitigroup Inc. confirms that it will spin off Travelers Property Casualty Corp. Up to 20% of Travelers will be released through an initial public offering, and the remainder will be spun off to Citigroup shareholders.The deal follows a long and…
Fraud squad releases annual top ten list
December 18, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Canadian Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CCAIF) has handed down its annual “Top Ten” list of insurance fraud schemes, and topping the list is a bilingual fraudster who tried to double file a claim by using both official languages.Other examples…
First of big life mergers on the table
December 18, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterIn the wake of Canada’s new financial service legislation and the relaxation of ownership restrictions, the first of the big lifeco mergers has been proposed. SunLife Canada is prepared to pay $7.3 billion in an all-share deal to acquire Clarica…
IBC accuses Newfoundland/Labrador lawyers for spreading misinformation
December 17, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has taken up arms against a coalition of personal injury lawyers in Newfoundland and Labrador, accusing the group of spreading "misinformation" to the public as the lobby battle wages on for reform to the…
Kingsway operations gain strong financial ratings
December 14, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterRating agency A.M. Best has reaffirmed the "A" (excellent) rating of the Canadian insurance operations of Kingsway Financial Services Inc. (TSE: KFS). The operations in question include Kingsway General Insurance Co., York Fire & Casualty Insurance Co., Jevco Insurance Co,…