Ontario auto regulator: What does it mean to “pay too much?”
October 28, 2019 by Adam MalikWith all sides seemingly in agreement that auto insurance in Ontario needs a joint effort to get back in shape, the province’s regulator is poised to make it happen. And this requires a review of how much the auto product…
What the industry can do to get out of the hard market cycle
August 30, 2019 by Adam MalikAlthough regulation is one significant factor in the current hardening market conditions, that doesn’t mean the insurance industry should cry “woe is me” and wait for things to get better on their own. Instead, a pro-active approach is needed, experts…
Why urban drivers may actually be better risks than rural drivers
August 2, 2019 by Adam MalikDrivers in the heavily populated Greater Toronto Area are less likely to have a ticket, a collision or both on their record compared to those in more rural communities in Ontario. The counter-intuitive result came from a recent study by…
Top court cuts down “apples” approach to tort award reduction
July 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAdjusters and insurance defence lawyers who think the “apples-to-apples” approach to deducting future no-fault benefits from tort awards is rotten will likely find relief in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling released Thursday. Canada’s top court announced July 11 it…
What insurers requested of police chiefs
June 24, 2019 by Adam MalikInsurers are calling on greater collaboration with law enforcement to help fight auto insurance fraud. The cost of auto insurance fraud is overwhelming, and no one industry can tackle it alone, Don Forgeron, president and CEO of the Insurance Bureau…
What cabinet upheaval means for auto reform progress
June 24, 2019 by Adam MalikOntario Premier Doug Ford has made drastic changes to his cabinet just months after including auto reforms in its first budget. Taking over as finance minister – and in effect, the auto insurance file – will be Rod Phillips. The…
Making auto reform happen
May 16, 2019 by Adam MalikInsurance reform is long overdue, says the head of a medical evaluation company. Don Kunkel, president of Ontario-based AssessMed, which operates in eight provinces, says previous efforts to reform auto insurance have produced results that have been less than desired.…
What insurance companies can do to help police
May 15, 2019 by Adam MalikOttawa police laid more charges related to a busted a car theft ring that saw 50 vehicles stolen and totalled $2.5 million in value. It’s a case in which the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) played a key role in…
ICBC plants seed for online auto renewals
May 8, 2019 by Adam MalikA day many British Columbia policyholders have been calling for finally appears to be on the horizon. But it may force some brokers to change how they do business. While hosting an AMA (ask me anything) session on popular social…
Alberta auto cap leading to broker-carrier contract cancellations
January 14, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAlberta’s ceiling on auto rate increases is causing some brokers to lose their contracts with carriers. In Alberta, as a general rule carriers may not hike rates by more than 5% across their book of business. “It has resulted in…
Insurer pushing for new auto fraud laws
December 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA major insurer is calling for new laws prohibiting various forms of auto insurance fraud in Ontario. “As an industry we need a new set of provincial offences that will allow for the efficient and effective prosecution of fraud,” said…
Priority dispute can proceed in mechanic test-drive case
November 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachCanada’s highest court announced Thursday it will not hear a dispute arising from a vehicle repairman who got hurt while test-driving a customer’s car. The dispute is over a provision in Ontario Regulation 283/95 that sets out rules for auto…