News
Why Supreme Court ruling in car theft case offers little comfort to insurers
May 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachLiability risk for companies having control of vehicles may be somewhat lessened with the Supreme Court of Canada’s recent ruling in Rankin (Rankin’s Garage & Sales) v. J.J., but a plaintiff injured as a result of a vehicle theft can…
“Don’t be on the sidelines,” speakers say of blockchain
May 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachBlockchain, the technology behind Bitcoin, does not have a foothold in insurance yet, but it will no doubt disrupt some industries, speakers said last week at a financial industry conference. Blockchain promises “massively new business models,” Andrew Maxwell, director of…
Report to government suggests hot opportunity for brokers right now
May 14, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers in British Columbia looking to place overland flood cover should review a recent study that found polled respondents did not have access to overland flood insurance, did not know about it, or found it unaffordable. Even more alarming, most…
Paid Part 3 of DGA study reveals how to achieve your ideal insurance career
May 14, 2018 by DGA CareersWhat direction do you see your insurance career taking over the next five years? Are you on a path to the C-suite or other leadership role? Alternatively, do you have a more entrepreneurial vision for either starting a company or…
What’s the difference between a “self-insured retention” and a deductible?
May 14, 2018 by David GambrillA “self-insured retention” [SIR] is effectively the same thing as a deductible in a contract triggered by an insurer’s duty to defend, an Ontario court has ruled in a case involving an agreement between an elevator contractor and the building…
What could cause more flood woes in B.C.
May 14, 2018 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Torrential rains that pushed southern British Columbia waterways to flood stage have eased, but officials warn a new threat of unseasonably warm weather could rapidly melt snowpacks, adding to already swollen rivers. David Campbell, head of the B.C.…
Brokers worried that Ontario auto problems will force companies to exit market
May 11, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers in Ontario are concerned that if auto insurance in the province remains unsustainable, companies may start to leave the market. Traci Boland, chairwoman of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO), spoke to Canadian Underwriter Thursday about trends in…
Consolidation of employee benefits firms among hot trends affecting P&C commercial lines
May 11, 2018 by David GambrillWhat are some of the hottest trends in Canadian P&C commercial lines right now? Insurtechs in the SME [small and medium sized enterprise] customer segment is a key driver in today’s commercial market, says Jim White, chief sales officer and executive vice president…
Paralegal license revoked for dishonest dealings with insurers
May 11, 2018 by David GambrillOntario’s legal regulator has revoked the license of a Richmond Hill paralegal for professional misconduct, finding that he misrepresented himself to insurance companies in accident benefits claims. In addition, the Law Society Tribunal ordered Roland Spiegel to pay the regulator…
How fear of ‘jackbooted brownshirts’ complicates cyber risk management
May 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachManaging the risk posed by the “dark web” is made all the more difficult by some people’s mistrust of police, a former top Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer suggested Thursday. “Cyber crime requires a different approach than just the preventative…
‘Many more significant losses’ due to climate change: Economical execs
May 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachClimate change was top of mind Monday for executives at Economical Insurance, which was hit with 11 weather catastrophes in 2017. “Climate change has resulted in many more significant losses from water and wind events,” said Gerald Hooper, a former…
Supreme Court says garage not liable for teen crash in stolen car
May 11, 2018 by The Canadian PressOTTAWA – A garage owner should not be held responsible for the terrible injuries a teen suffered when he and a friend stole a car from his lot and crashed it in a “tragic set of events,” the Supreme Court…