Segment
P&C Companies
Economical clears major hurdle to demutualization
March 20, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEconomical Insurance is a step closer to demutualization and becoming publicly traded on the stock exchange. An overwhelming majority (99%) of the insurer’s mutual policyholders voted Wednesday in favour of a demutualization proposal released in January. Several more steps are…
Manitoba flooding could be worse than 2009
March 19, 2019 Steve Lambert THE CANADIAN PRESSWINNIPEG – Heavy snowfall in the United States has raised the threat of flooding in Manitoba’s Red River Valley this spring. The Manitoba government says conditions have worsened since its first flood outlook last month. The province says, with average…
Is Aviva-Desjardins fraud collaboration the dawning of a new era?
March 19, 2019 by Jason ContantCould an insurance fraud collaboration between the second and third largest insurers in Canada herald the beginning of a broader trend across the industry? “Hopefully, this is laying the foundation for great, big things to come,” said Ashish Bhargava, vice…
What 5G technology means for the insurance and collision repair industries
March 18, 2019 by Jason ContantThe promise of 5G technology was one of the top stories coming out of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. But what does that mean for the insurance and collision repair industries? A massive increase in connected devices that respond seemingly…
How the Big 5 banks insure their directors’ liability
March 18, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s five biggest banks are paying nearly $8 million a year collectively in premiums, for billions in directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with no deductibles, recent security filings show. The total coverage limit and the circumstances under which those policies…
Top court sides with insurer in unidentified vehicle coverage dispute
March 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Supreme Court of Canada decision released today means Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company does not have to cover a claimant who says he drove off the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Andrew Funk was injured after he drove his…
What insurtechs can learn from hackathons
March 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEditor’s Note: This article has been updated. A previous version incorrectly stated that duuo was launched at Slice Labs’ launch studio in Toronto. CU apologizes for the error. If you want to develop a new digital insurance product, it shouldn’t…
How your client can save money by detecting plumbing problems
March 13, 2019 by Greg MeckbachCanadian property clients could soon get an insurance discount by installing products from water flow sensing vendor Triple Plus Ltd. Triple Plus recently announced a pilot project in which American clients of Berkshire Hathaway GUARD can get lower property insurance…
All bets are off on timing of interest rate increase
March 8, 2019 Andy Blatchford - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – A weak data report “surprised” the Bank of Canada ahead of its decision to cast doubts about future interest-rate hikes and to warn Canadians the ongoing slump could prove to be unexpectedly stubborn, says one of the bank’s…
Steps to scale innovation at your company
March 8, 2019 by Jason ContantScaling innovation across a business can be a challenge, as most organizations start innovation in a “pocket, team or lab,” a speaker said late last month at the Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference. Simon Chan, head of corporate innovation thought leadership at…
Wawanesa’s plan to innovate at scale
March 7, 2019 by Jason ContantHaving a flexible and accommodating schedule is key to incorporating innovation into an organization, the director of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company’s Innovation Outpost said recently. Last June, Wawanesa opened its Innovation Outpost lab in Kitchener, Ont. One of the first…
How innovation changes the underwriter’s job
March 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachTechnology and data will change the underwriter’s job but will not eliminate it, suggests Russell Johnston, chief executive officer for North America of QBE Insurance Group Limited. “At the end of the day, people still make the decisions,” Johnston said…