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Updated: What emergency relief will insurers offer customers? Here’s what they told us

May 31, 2021 by Adam Malik

Editor’s notes: This story has been updated to include additional information from Allstate. Insurance Bureau of Canada announced in 2020 that its members are offering reductions in auto insurance premiums for consumers whose driving habits have changed significantly. You can

News ClaimsClaims CanadaLegal

Appeal court rules for insurers in handling of HST in auto AB claims

May 27, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Ontario auto insurance claimants cannot take insurers directly to court over how carriers treat sales tax on accident benefits claims, the province’s appeal court has ruled. This is because the province’s Licence Appeal Tribunal, not the Superior Court of Justice,

News Insurance

What consumers really want from their insurance providers

May 26, 2021 by Jason Contant

As insurers and brokers increase their efforts to go digital, consumers still say they want an omni-channel and personalized experience, according to Ipsos survey results of more than 13,000 Canadian adults. “The preference to buy directly from the [insurance] company

News ClaimsClaims CanadaInsurance

Why your clients could expect price reductions in home insurance

May 25, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

If insurers can achieve combined ratios of less than 80% in personal property, homeowners should expect to see lower prices and possibly even rebates, the CEO of LowestRates.ca suggests. “For consumers, if insurance companies are making money, then it means

News InsuranceTechnology

Digital experimentation: How to avoid the shiny object syndrome

May 20, 2021 by David Gambrill

While the insurance industry is hearing a lot of messages these days about the importance of experimenting with new digital technologies — i.e. witness the increased use of terms such as “agility,” “nimble,” “pivoting,” and “failing fast” — a business

News InsuranceTechnology

Customer service trends: The COVID grace period is over

May 19, 2021 by David Gambrill

With the end of the pandemic now a distinct possibility, Canadians are expecting the property and casualty insurance industry to up its game in customer service, industry execs observed in a recent webinar. “The move to digital [in March 2020]

News InsuranceTechnology

Want a level playing field between tech and insurance? How open banking might help

May 8, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Open banking rules could help create a level playing field between technology companies and the insurance industry, speakers suggested at a recent virtual conference. Bringing in “consumer-directed finance” will help consumers benefit from a broader range of financial products and

News Insurance

Canada’s April vehicle sales up 254% from last year’s pandemic low

May 4, 2021 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Canadian auto sales in April were up 254 per cent compared with the same month last year, when sales plunged due to lockdowns in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to estimates compiled by DesRosiers Automotive

News ClaimsLegislation / Regulation

Why insurers like Ontario’s plans to restrict tow trucks

April 29, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Ontario tow truck operators will be prohibited from stopping within 200 metres of motor vehicle accidents unless they are specifically asked to do so by people involved in the collision. This is what will happen if Bill 282, the Moving

News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsClaims CanadaInsuranceLegislation / Regulation

Why IBAC foresees a national flood insurance program

April 28, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The recently-released federal budget gives brokers reason to be optimistic that Canada will eventually have a national flood insurance program for homeowners, the head of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada suggests. “The commitment from the federal government is clear

News Insurance

How far telematics can reach in assessing risk

April 26, 2021 by Jason Contant

The use of telematics is expanding beyond traditional vehicles and tracking methods to increasingly focus on contextual risk, a speaker said Friday at the InsurTech North virtual conference. Traditional telematics devices measure driving behaviours such as speed, time of day

News InsuranceTechnology

InsurTech North speaker: What may work for desktop may not work for mobile

April 23, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

When it comes to shopping for insurance online, the consumer experience will vary across platforms, something that isn’t always discussed when the industry talks about digitizing its customer experience. The matter came up recently during ‘Key Touchpoints in the Customer