Canadian Underwriter


A panel discussion group representative of some of the top players in the insurance and auto repair-shop industries was hosted by I-Car at its recent 2001 National Collision Repair Conference which took place in Montreal, Quebec. The issues debated were wide in range, however, all of the speakers agreed that formal service standards have to be set in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market environment - one which has seen growing tensions between insurers and their claim handling partners in the battle for cost-containment.
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Collision Repair: SERVICE DETERMINES PROFITABILITY

May 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, Editor

Speakers of an insurer/collision discussion panel hosted by the industry’s international education body I-Car at its recent Canadian national conference were provided with the stark theme of dealing with “reality”. On a particularly “realistic note” was the thick tension in…
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Auto theft: BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION

May 1, 2001 Linda Farha of Boomerang Tracking Inc.

Canadian automobile owners, insurance companies and law enforcement officials are looking for solutions to the rising cost of auto theft, which is estimated at more than $1 billion per year in this country. Many new developments in anti-theft systems have been made, but adoption rates have been slow and their effectiveness remains questionable. The latest developments in cellular tracking may be especially effective in combating the export of stolen vehicles, and new insurance incentives to drivers who install these and other devices are a key part of the solution.
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UNLOCKING B.C.’S AUTO MARKET

May 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, Editor

At the time of writing this article, less than two weeks remained before voters in British Columbia will be asked to choose a new provincial government. And, in the lead-up to B.C.’s provincial election set for May 16, polling results suggest that the current ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) will likely garner less than 20% of the popular vote, while the opposition Liberal Party seems to be favored by 80% of the province’s voters. As media reports in B.C. point out, it is not a case of whether the Liberals will win, but by how much. What does this have to do with the insurance industry? A change in government in B.C. this year – particularly with the Liberals in the driving seat – could herald the beginning of deregulation of the province’s $2.6 billion “basic auto” insurance marketplace which for the last 27 years has been legislatively protected and underwritten by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).
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Collision repair group expands U.S operations

April 1, 2001 by Canadian Underwriter

Winnipeg-based The Boyd Group Inc. (TSE: BYD.A) has acquired Atlanta, U.S.-based Car-Tech Holdings Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The deal will require Boyd issuing 264,286 Class-A shares valued at around $1.4 million as part payment for the acquisition. The Car-Tech…
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A NEW ORDER VALUE OR LOST OPPORTUNITY?

March 1, 2001 Sean van Zyl, Editor

Coming years will see increased attention being brought to bear on the service performance of the claims management side of the insurance business, delegates who attended the recently held Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association and Canadian Independent Adjusters Association joint…
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TENSIONS OF A TIGHTENING MARKET

March 1, 2001 Axiom

One look at his rapidly reddening face and I could tell that our vice president was not enjoying himself. Worse than that, he seemed ready to explode. As the senior broker representative in the center of the conference room continued…
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News (February 01, 2001)

February 1, 2001 by Canadian Underwriter

Two Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Company employees headed to Antarctica last month as part of Mission Antarctica, a five-year environmental project aimed at protecting the Antarctic wilderness. Hilda Aywaz and Brenda Lemieux were selected through a national competition of Royal…

 ILLUSTRATION: WEI YAN / MASTERFILE
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SETTING THE STANDARD: Regulators tackle the Internet

February 1, 2001 Lawrie Savage, president of Lawrie Savage & Associates Inc.

As insurers dip their toes into the vast ocean of e-commerce, regulators are donning their lifeguard gear in an attempt to protect consumers and the industry itself from the potential dangers lurking there. At home and abroad, the as yet…
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WIRELESS CLAIMS BEYOND THE INTERNET

February 1, 2001 Larry Snipes, director of product development and general insura

The brave new world of the Internet brought a scope of accessibility never before experienced. And, just as insurers are beginning to grasp all that the Internet has to offer, the digital world is opening even more doorways with the…

 ILLUSTRATION: GERALD HEYDENS
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The secret behind CSR good talent

January 1, 2001 Axiom

As the company’s senior marketing representative, it was an annual ritual. Every January, I invited a group of my lead brokers to my house for an afternoon of wine tasting followed by a large and calorie-rich dinner. It was now…
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On The Move (December 01, 2000)

December 1, 2000 by Canadian Underwriter

Sorema N.A. recently celebrated the retirement of its Canadian chief agent Angus Ross (pictured, right) and the appointed of his successor, Francois Dagneau (left). Ross leaves the industry after more than 35 years, including 8 years with Sorema. Prior to…
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Magtec meets VICC standards

December 1, 2000 by Canadian Underwriter

In its drive to promote the use of electronic vehicle immobilizers as an alternative to car alarms and other devices, the Vehicle Information Centre of Canada has approved the use of the Magtec 6000. The device, distributed by Calgary-based Magtec…