Segment
Consumers
The ‘strange and new opportunity’ for insurance from open banking
January 4, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf Canada proceeds with so-called “consumer-directed finance,” technology firms could potentially get access to consumers’ insurance data, a Microsoft Canada expert told brokers during a recent webinar. The federal finance department appointed its Advisory Committee on Open Banking in 2018.…
Why so many digitization projects fail
December 17, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBuying technology before thinking through the process that the new technology is supposed to enable is one reason why some projects are not well-executed, an insurance digital transformation leader suggested Wednesday. “When you start to think about digitizing things, you…
Honda recalls 130,000 vehicles in Canada
December 17, 2020 The Canadian PressMARKHAM, Ont. – Honda says it will recall 130,000 vehicles in Canada, including certain Fit, Civic, Accord, Insight and Acura ILX models, after announcing a similar recall of 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. The automaker says 96,761 of the…
Another win for wedding vendors in a COVID cancellation dispute
December 16, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia couple who cancelled their August 2020 wedding due to pandemic concerns is not entitled by a force majeure (an ‘Act of God’) clause to a refund of $4,000 they paid the would-be venue in advance. The province’s…
Taming Social Inflation
December 16, 2020 Adam Malik, Managing EditorSocial inflation essentially describes insurers’ increasing legal costs. Why insurers are pinning this primarily on the rise of litigation funding
Defying The Grinch may cost your clients home insurance coverage
December 11, 2020 by David GambrillAre your clients tempted to defy The Grinch who stole Christmas and have large holiday gatherings during the pandemic regardless of what public health orders might say? You might want to tell them about pandemic exclusions in their home insurance…
What the regulators’ data says about insurers and fair treatments of customers
December 10, 2020 by David GambrillCanadian P&C insurers have generally embraced the general principles of the Fair Treatment of Consumers (FTC), but the industry still has some work to do in specific benchmark areas, according to an annual statement on market conduct issued by the…
What four home insurers told the auditor general about illegal electrical work
December 8, 2020 by Greg MeckbachSome Ontario homeowners could collect insurance money on property claims even if the damage was caused by illegal electrical work, the auditor general suggests in her report released Monday. Staff with the province’s Office of the Auditor General contacted four…
IBC reveals the latest trends in auto theft
December 8, 2020 by Jason ContantElectronic auto theft, high-end vehicles stolen for shipment overseas, and street racing are three emerging trends coming out of Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC) list of Top 10 stolen vehicles in 2020. Electronic auto theft is on the rise across…
Editorial: Regulators, leave subscription policies alone
December 7, 2020 by David GambrillWhen it comes to regulating “Best Terms Pricing” in Canada, Canadians, politicians and insurance regulators be forewarned: Be careful what you wish for. Banning the practice in a hard commercial lines market could wind up making things worse for consumers,…
Saskatchewan restarts emergency grants for small businesses hit by COVID-19 rules
December 3, 2020 Stephanie Taylor - THE CANADIAN PRESSREGINA – The Saskatchewan government is reviving an emergency grant program for small businesses that have been hit by restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19. The province will begin accepting applications for its small business emergency payment program…
Public not aware of rights lost in B.C.’s no-fault auto scheme: personal injury lawyer
December 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe average British Columbia consumer does not really understand what rights they will lose with the auto insurance reforms scheduled to take effect this May, a Vancouver personal injury lawyer warns. Provincial politicians voted earlier this year to pass Bill…