Segment
Underwriting
Proposal to end real estate bidding wars could affect P&C insurers
April 19, 2022 Philip PoradoCracking down on factors contributing to home-price escalation is a major component of the Apr. 7 federal budget document. If successful, they could affect insurers’ ability to control reconstruction costs and other claims impacts for their insureds. Proposed budget actions…
Not addressing diversity issues creates risk for brokers, survey finds
April 14, 2022 Phil PoradoNearly all Canadian brokers agree addressing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues is linked to business success, according to a late 2021 Canadian Underwriter online survey of 208 brokers across Canada, made possible with the support of Sovereign Insurance. It…
‘Professional activities’ exclusions: Why insurers must almost always defend
April 13, 2022 by David GambrillQuebec’s Superior Court notes an insurer will almost always have a duty to defend an insured in disputes over policy exclusions for “professional activities.” “A review of the case law dealing with exclusion for ‘professional activities’ reveals that, in almost…
Does federal budget create new tax liability for P&C industry?
April 12, 2022 Greg MeckbachA federal budget proposal to forbid insurers from using a contractual service margin as a deductible reserve for tax purposes could impose a one-time tax liability on the industry. International Financial Reporting Standard 17 (IFRS 17) will “substantially change the…
More than eight in 10 Canadians admit they drive distracted
April 11, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoEighty-three per cent of Canadian drivers engage in at least one distracted driving behaviour, and this has only increased in the past year, finds a recent survey. But distracted driving doesn’t come without its costs. Non-digital distractions lead the…
Some brokers say they face workplace discrimination
April 8, 2022 Philip PoradoCanada likes to see itself as a leader in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). And while it may be ahead of certain countries, some Canadian brokerage industry employees said they have faced various forms of workplace discrimination.…
How the federal budget impacts P&C insurers
April 8, 2022 Philip Porado, with files from Melissa Shin and Rudy MezzettaAs expected, 2022’s federal budget included a 1.5% bank and insurer surtax for taxable income over $100 million for taxation years that end after April 7. That means those companies will pay 16.5% on income above that threshold going forward.…
How auto could be the force that eats into Canadian insurers’ results
April 8, 2022 by David GambrillWith ROE levels in the Canadian P&C industry at a historic high of 17%, count Lloyds Canada among the list of insurance providers that caution the industry not to squander the hard-won gains of the hard market in a bid…
What Canadians can expect of future hurricane seasons
April 7, 2022 by David GambrillAtlantic Canadians can expect to see more and increasingly intense hurricanes, as sea surface temperatures continue to warm up as a result of climate change. “Warmer sea surface temperatures fuel stronger hurricanes,” Swiss Re Canada CEO Monica Ningen observed during…
How profitable was Canada’s P&C industry last year?
April 7, 2022 by Jason ContantLast year saw the lowest-ever combined ratio in the Canadian P&C insurance industry, making it the third most profitable year for Canada’s P&C insurance industry since 1975, according to the Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC). “The 2021 industry…
What companies prioritize over cybersecurity
April 1, 2022 Philip PoradoEven as instances of cyberattacks grow in North America and worldwide, business leaders in charge of cybersecurity appear to be putting other priorities first, according to a recent study from cybersecurity firm Trend Micro. It found that if push came…
Risk of flood loss is now on par with primary perils: Swiss Re
March 31, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoSecondary peril events such as flooding are becoming just as big of a threat — or worse — to global property and casualty insurers than primary perils, Swiss Re Institute’s recent sigma study finds. “The loss potential from single flood…