Segment
Brokers
IBAC appoints new vice presidents to the board
September 27, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterKen Myers has been appointed vice president to the executive committee of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada’s (IBAC) board of directors. Myers, an account manager with Stanhope Simpson Insurance (Halifax), is a past president and retiring chair with the…
Photographs selected for brokers’ calendar
September 27, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterThirteen photographs have been selected for SGI Canada’s 2012 “It’s a good life” brokers’ calendar. The cross-Canada amateur photography contest ran in June and July and asked for entries capturing how wonderful life is. There were 421 photos submitted by…
Canadians embracing ‘self-serve’ insurance options, but still value broker contact
September 27, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterCanadians are researching their personal insurance online, but fewer are completing the transaction online, Robert Merizzi, executive vice president and chief information officer at Aviva Canada, told delegates at the National Insurance Conference of Canada (NICC). Merizzi spoke during the…
IBAC president Dale Rempel calls for brokers to reach out to new MPs
September 26, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterCanada has a new majority government, and the challenge now is for brokers to make themselves known to the new Members of Parliament, Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) president Dale Rempel says.Rempel succeeded IBAC past president Fraser Lyle at…
IBAO pushes for administrative monetary penalties in Ontario
September 22, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) is urging the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) to include administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) in the Insurance Act.Currently, FSCO can issue a cease and desist order, often in conjunction with an undertaking…
Increase in cyber claims reflects increasing dependency on IT systems
September 20, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterThere has been a 56% increase in cyber claim notifications over the last year at Willis. “The rise is reflecting the evolving regulatory environment and a growing dependency on IT systems,” Willis broker Jeremy Smith told Lloyds.com. A number of…
Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Lindsay) joins Broker Identity Program
September 19, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Lindsay) has become a full partner of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC)’s Broker Identity Program (BIP).IBAC launched the program 23 years ago to promote the value and professionalism of the insurance broker to…
Hub International to acquire independent Manitoba brokerage Horizon Insurance
September 14, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterHub International Limited (Hub) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the operations of Horizon Insurance LP (Horizon), a full service insurance brokerage firm headquartered in Manitoba. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011…
Death and funeral benefit ranks the most popular optional benefit purchased by Ontario policyholders
September 7, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterOntario auto insurance policyholders were about four times more likely to purchase the increased death and funeral benefit than any of the other optional benefits offered under the province’s reformed auto insurance scheme.Ontario’s insurance regulator, the Financial Services Commission of…
IBAO education seminar to review auto reforms
September 2, 2011 by Canadian UnderwriterOne year into the Ontario auto insurance reforms, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) is holding a continuing education seminar to review the highlights and the challenges associated with the reforms.Entitled Auto Reform – A 12 Month Review, the…
M&A Fireworks
September 1, 2011 David GambrillBetween 2005 and 2007, analysts routinely predicted an exciting explosion of mergers and acquisitions activity in the fragmented Canadian P&C market. But not much happened, and then the financial crisis doused the party in 2008-09. Now, M&A activity seems to be lighting up the Canadian P&C landscape. Do these deals suggest future M&A fireworks, or are they a prelude to a dud?
The Era of Active Communication
September 1, 2011 Kadey B.J. Schultz, Partner, Hughes Amys LLP (Toronto)Ontario’s auto reforms highlight the importance of documenting all communications with consumers – even if those communications prove to be entirely one-sided.