Hospital-based examination centres should provide Ontario auto accident treatment plans: Marshall
April 12, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterOntario should not move to a government-run auto insurance system but the province should establish hospital-based examination centres with authority to establish treatment plans that would have to be provided by the insurers, without dispute, a special advisor to the…
Global reinsurer capital up by 5% to US$595 billion as of year-end 2016: Aon Benfield
April 11, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterGlobal reinsurer capital rose by 5% to US$595 billion at Dec. 31, 2016, according to the latest edition of the Aon Benfield Aggregate (ABA) report. The report, released on Tuesday, highlights trends in property and casualty reinsurance through the analysis…
Disruption becoming more of a motivator for cyber attacks: ICRMC panel
March 2, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichThe motivation and rationale behind certain cyber attacks seems to be undergoing a transition, with some actors looking to inflict the most disruption possible on a target entity simply for the “fun” of it, it was suggested Thursday during the…
Wawanesa subsidiary Trimont Financial to acquire Western Financial Group and Western Life Assurance from Desjardins Group
February 16, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterTrimont Financial Ltd., a subsidiary of The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, announced on Thursday that it will acquire Western Financial Group and Western Life Assurance (together as Western) from Desjardins Financial Corporation, a Desjardins Group subsidiary, for a total transaction…
The Co-operators launches mobile app for clients to access and manage insurance information
February 16, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterGuelph, Ont.-based The Co-operators announced on Thursday that it has launched a new mobile app providing clients with a “quick, easy and secure way” to access and manage their insurance information. With the free app, available through iTunes and Google…
Auto executive warns U.S. Congress it will be ‘pretty hard’ to make autonomous vehicles ‘safe in all conditions’
February 15, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterCompanies aiming to deploy autonomous vehicles in the next few years are “typically” referring to vehicles that are only autonomous under certain conditions, such as good weather, a Toyota executive suggested this week to a subcommittee of the United States…
U.S. Congress committee warned that autonomous vehicles could ‘pose an avenue for terrorism’
February 14, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe industry and regulators need to “think very broadly” around the cyber security of autonomous vehicles, and having autonomous cars operate in such a way that human drivers must be ready to take control can actually increase the risk of…
IBM’s famed Watson computer ‘gets a job’ fighting cybercrime threat
February 13, 2017 Kevin Bissett - THE CANADIAN PRESSFREDERICTON – A year after IBM began teaching its Watson computer system to fight cybercrime, the company is making the platform available for use. “Now he gets a job and makes us some money,” quipped Caleb Barlow, vice-president of IBM…
U.S. financial firms looking to robo-technology to complement existing service models
January 25, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterRobo-technology is expected to be part of the mix for most polled U.S. financial firms looking to enhance their existing service models, suggest a new survey from Vestmark, Inc. Feedback was captured during a webinar last month attended by 150…
ILS sector set to gather pace after subdued 2016: Aon study
January 23, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe insurance-linked securities (ILS) sector is set to gather steam this year, with a record amount of catastrophe bonds to mature in the first half of 2017, according to a new report from Aon Securities. Aon Securities, the investment banking…
Economic losses from nat cat events in 2016 total US$210 billion, the highest loss amount in four years: Aon Benfield
January 17, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThree hundred and fifteen natural catastrophe events in 2016 generated economic losses of US$210 billion, the highest loss amount in four years and 21% above the 16-average of US$174 billion, according to Aon Benfield’s 2016 Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe…
Seven of 10 global consumers would welcome robo-advice for banking, insurance and retirement services: Accenture
January 11, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterSeven in 10 consumers around the world would welcome robo-advisory services – computer-generated advice and services that are independent of a human advisor – for their insurance, banking and retirement planning, according to a new report by Accenture. The 2017…