B.C. proposes ‘first step’ amendments to laws governing condo insurance
June 23, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – The B.C. government says proposed legislation it has introduced takes first steps to address concerns about sky-high costs and availability of insurance for condominiums and other shared properties. Housing Minister Selina Robinson says the legislation proposes to amend…
B.C. report says condo insurance market ‘unhealthy,’ premiums up 40 per cent
June 16, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – A report commissioned by the B.C. government says insurance premiums for condominium buildings have increased by as much as 40 per cent year over year while deductible costs have tripled. Blair Morrison, chief executive officer of The B.C.…
Flood warnings expand for part of B.C., but conditions ease elsewhere
June 1, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSFlood warnings now cover a large section of southern British Columbia as river levels rise rapidly in response to heavy weekend rains and continuing snowmelt. The River Forecast Centre extended a flood warning Monday to the Boundary region, including the…
Car sharing service Turo says launch into B.C. market is ‘imminent’
May 28, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Fans of car-sharing services in British Columbia are about to get another option within weeks of the closure of two other car-share businesses in the province. Turo, which describes itself as the world’s largest peer-to-peer car sharing platform,…
COVID 19 pandemic adds risk to wildfire season: B.C. forests minister
May 21, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSNEW HAZELTON, B.C. – The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the danger of British Columbia’s wildfire season and the province’s forests minister says public help is crucial to reduce fires. Doug Donaldson says wildfires caused by humans are preventable and divert…
B.C. businesses grapple with new health protocols as reopening begins Tuesday
May 19, 2020 Brenna Owen - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – As some British Columbia businesses prepare to reopen their doors on Tuesday when the province enters the second phase of its COVID-19 restart plan, others say they’re holding off while they grapple with new health protocols. Claire Wyrostok…
How B.C. is gradually reopening its economy
May 8, 2020 Dirk Meissner -THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – British Columbia has reached the point in the COVID-19 pandemic where it will start a gradual reopening of the economy while also allowing social interactions between families, friends and communities to increase. The plan to restart the province…
New evacuation order in B.C. as flooding affects central Interior
April 24, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – A flood warning has been issued for a river near Prince George, British Columbia, after it rose nearly 35 centimetres in a day. The B.C. River Forecast Centre, which assesses water supply, flood risk and predicts flows in…
How a regulator made it easier for P&C industry to social-distance
March 19, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBritish Columbia’s broker regulator has temporarily its loosened rules governing the workplace location of Level 1 salespeople, allowing them to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary rule change took effect Thursday. “The Insurance Council of BC shares…
Pollution exclusion means no coverage for this dry cleaner defendant
January 16, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA British Columbia court ruling in favour of Intact Insurance Company and Economical Mutual Insurance Company is now final. A Vancouver-based dry cleaners that wanted to make a pollution-related claim with the two insurers, under commercial general liability policies, cannot…
How B.C. plans to address nat cat risk management
October 29, 2019 Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – The challenges of preventing and responding to devastating wildfires and floods in British Columbia and the prospect of more disasters to come has prompted the government to reassess its emergency management laws. The Emergency Program Act needs to…
The firm that wants to launch ride hailing in B.C. this winter
September 10, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Ride-hailing company Kater Technologies says it has officially applied for a licence that would allow it to operate in every region of British Columbia. A statement from the company says B.C. is one of the last areas of…