Ontario PCs historically ‘very receptive’ to auto rate reform: Intact CEO
August 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s newly-elected government has been silent on auto insurance reform, but the head of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurance carrier is encouraged by the Progressive Conservative Party’s historical leaning towards loosening rate regulation. The Progressive Conservative Party was returned…
Ontario’s plans for auto insurance reform still under wraps
August 2, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA month after being sworn into office, Ontario’s new political rulers have been silent on the issue of auto insurance reform. “We haven’t heard anything formal yet from government,” confirmed Pete Karageorgos, the director of consumer and industry relations for…
One tip you can offer clients to help prevent basement flooding
July 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDo your home insurance clients ever look at their sump pumps? A homeowner may have a sump pump and not realize that the motor has seized up or that the circuit breaker has tripped. To be on the safe side,…
How brokerages should handle employees’ use of social media
June 13, 2018 by Greg MeckbachNegative public reaction to some high-profile Twitter and Instagram posts raises the question of whether insurance brokerage owners should monitor the personal social media accounts of their workers. “We don’t police our staff’s Facebook pages,” reports Calgary brokerage owner Robyn…
Should accident benefits for minor injuries be optional?
June 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachShould greater choice in auto insurance for Ontario motorists include the ability of insureds to opt out of benefits for minor injuries? David Marshall, a special advisor to Finance Minister Charles Sousa, has questioned whether accident benefits should cover minor…
Devious ways your clients are trying to get better auto rates
May 30, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTerritorial ratings have prompted some Ontario motorists to lie about where they live on their applications in order to get a lower auto insurance rate, so brokers need to caution clients on the importance of telling the truth, a local…
Economical exposed to Ontario’s auto market cycles
May 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachExposure to Ontario’s regulated auto market is one factor leading to the “unsatisfactory” financial performance at Economical Insurance, CEO Rowan Saunders suggested to mutual policyholders attending the company’s annual general meeting, held Monday at the Bingemans Centre in Kitchener, Ont.…
Ontario Chamber of Commerce joins chorus of calls for electronic pink slips
May 1, 2018 by Jason ContantThe Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the latest organization to call on the provincial government to allow insurers to offer an electronic proof of auto insurance (EPAI) and other insurance documents. In a resolution passed during OCC’s annual general…
Mo Kaur named president and chief operating officer of Premier Group
April 30, 2018 by Jason ContantVancouver-based managing underwriting agency (MUA) Premier Group announced Monday that Mo Kaur will assume the role of president and chief operating officer. Kaur has been part of Premier for six years, serving as senior vice president for the past five…
How blockchain will put pressure on broker commissions in 3-5 years
April 10, 2018 by David GambrillBlockchain is going to put pressure on broker commissions and fundamentally change the way the broker channel does business over the next three to five years, says a past Marsh Canada national executive and management committee member. Blockchain will reduce…
Consumers capable of making online insurance purchases on their own: digital broker
April 2, 2018 by Jason ContantCanadians are rejecting the notion that personal lines insurance is such a complicated product that consumers are incapable of making their own insurance purchase decisions without the advice of a broker, a digital broker told Canadian Underwriter recently. “I don’t…
Why insurers and brokers like Ontario’s budget
March 29, 2018 by David GambrillFacing the distinct possibility of a political regime change in Ontario, the province’s auto insurers and brokers are calling on all of the province’s political parties to keep their eyes focused on auto insurance reform as the way to deliver…