The Smart Home of the Future
October 1, 2001 Andy Walker, Cyberwalker Media SyndicateJust as items in a store are tracked through UPN codes, the items in homes may soon be “tagged” and tracked. And this is just the beginning of new “smart home” technology. New systems are under development that could put a very different face on the house of the future.
Storms hit Manitoba, Newfoundland
October 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterHail as large as baseballs caused more than $3 million in damage to vehicles in Manitoba, the province’s public insurer reports. A late summer storm wreaked havoc on car hoods, fenders and roofs, reports Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). Shortly after…
The Great Cell Debate
September 1, 2001 Vikki SpencerAs New York takes the first step in restricting driving and hand-held cell phones this year, a building debate is growing within Canada over safety and “dialing and driving”. Although several studies seem to support increased safety risk, provincial legislators remain hamstrung over the conflicting interests of the public and the telecommunications industry.
Network Knight a Human “Plug-In”
September 1, 2001 Ivor Kaye, Grantech Systems Inc.In this era of rapid growth and development, technology is the key that unlocks opportunity. Unfortunately, the insurance industry has been slow to adopt technology as a primary tool, preferring instead to simply replace manual tasks with automation, and upgrade…
MPI pays over $3 million for hail damage
August 23, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterA hail storm that struck Winnipeg early this week is costing the province’s public insurer dearly, reports the Canadian Press. Manitoba Public Insurance says that it will be paying out more than $3 million in claims for vehicles damaged by…
Blame the Car…
August 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, EditorOnly a numskull politician could possibly suggest that cars are to blame for what their idiot drivers do. Yet, that seems to be the message Quebec’s (questionably) revered Minister of Transport, Guy Chevrette, has charged. At a recently held media…
News (August 01, 2001)
August 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterWinners of the John E. Lowes Fund scholarships recently announced are Matthew Lafreniere and Ashley-Lynn Waldron of Algonquin College. The scholarships are awarded annually to Ontario students in full-time, post-secondary programs including the study of property and casualty insurance. Discount…
Letters (July 01, 2001)
July 1, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterDear Editor, Many years ago I wrote a letter to the editor asking “where is the voice of surety in Canada, I cannot hear it?”. Not too long thereafter The Surety Association of Canada was formed primarily by the bonding…
Quebec minister decries high-powered cars
June 7, 2001 by Canadian UnderwriterQuebec’s Transport Minister Guy Chevrette says auto manufacturers are creating a highway hazard by building more powerful engines in cars. At a news conference, Chevrette says that the federal government should step in to limit the power of car engines…
Auto claim costs PILE UP
June 1, 2001 Vikki SpencerAs controversy over aftermarket parts use continues to swirl in the wake of the State Farm verdict, insurers, auto manufacturers, and those in the collision repair industry are looking at how to make driving safer and reduce accident costs. With auto insurers facing dismal results across the country, and in Ontario in particular, the need to tackle these costs is clear. But the role aftermarket parts, recycled parts, theft deterrents, and vehicle design will play in this attempt to bring profitability back to the auto insurance market was very much up for discussion at the recent Auto Insurers and Manufacturers (AIM) forum held in Mississauga.
A SURE HAND AT THE WHEEL
June 1, 2001 AxiomWith my boss, Fred Wilson, at the wheel, we maneuvered the comfy van on to the highway and headed for the golf course. As manager of the company’s downtown branch, Fred was in close daily contact with many of our…
Collision Repair: Fast Lane to the Future
May 1, 2001 Sam Malatesta, vice president marketing & insurance relations atThe past decade has been a time of transition for the collision repair industry, marked by a shrinking market and consolidation. Now the industry is seeking new alliances with the insurance industry in the drive to improve efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. As both industries head into the next decade, the pressure and the potential for success is increasingly dependent on the strength of those alliances.