Which coverages will lead brokers out of the hard market?
September 5, 2023 David GambrillFor several years, Canadian P&C insurance brokers climbed through a hard market in virtually all commercial specialty lines. Now, industry analysts have told Canadian Underwriter, that climb has plateaued in both the cyber and directors and officers (D&O) lines. “Now…
What’s changing the way commercial brokers view loss control?
June 26, 2023 David GambrillIt’s possible the pandemic, combined with the P&C industry’s ongoing hard market, may have permanently altered how insurers assess their risk appetites. And brokers wise to this shift have adjusted their approach to advising clients accordingly. Given that insurers are…
Tips for advising commercial clients during economic downturns
May 9, 2023 Alyssa Di SabatinoInflation and the looming threat of an economic downturn would seem like a one-two punch that would make commercial clients think about ways to skimp on insurance. But it isn’t necessarily so. “Insurance is not a discretionary spend for most companies,”…
Insurance premium tax exemption for B.C. First Nation with no reserve
November 4, 2022 by David GambrillQayqayt First Nation in B.C., which purchased a surety bond from a U.K. insurer as collateral for a bank loan to fund a legal action against the Crown for taking away its land, does not have to pay tax on…
Where Aviva Canada CEO sees commercial and auto lines heading
March 2, 2022 by Jason ContantPressures on commercial insurance rates will continue for the near future, but there will still be opportunities to write new business, says Jason Storah, CEO of Aviva Canada. As for auto lines, it remains to be seen how driving levels…
Court sides with insurer in multi-million-dollar spat over sublimits
January 21, 2022 by David GambrillB.C.’s Supreme Court has upheld an insurer’s insistence that a mining company’s business interruption losses were subject to a $10-millon sublimit and not to the full policy limit of $250 million. That said, the court did not agree with the…
Ontario promises action to address rising commercial insurance rates, critics urge regulation
October 26, 2020 Shawn Jeffords - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Under pressure to address rising commercial insurance rates blamed on the pandemic, Premier Doug Ford promised this week to take action to stop what he called “gouging” by some companies in the sector. Ford twice this week has…
Industry execs to discuss how to navigate the condo insurance market
October 23, 2020 by David GambrillSelling and underwriting condo insurance these days is a tough gig, but the property and casualty insurance industry is no stranger to tough market cycles. Mainstream media are filled with stories about condo corporations seeing their premiums and deductibles increase,…
Commercial clients want your advice on how to re-open safely. What do you tell them?
July 8, 2020 by David GambrillAs provincial governments across Canada begin to fire up their local economies in staged phases, Canadian businesses are asking their brokerages for advice on how to re-open safely. Aon Canada is already engaged in these sorts of their discussions with…
What reinsurance renewals on Jan. 1 told us about the market
January 2, 2020 by David GambrillReinsurance renewals at Jan. 1, 2020 reflected an “asymmetrical” market, featuring a mixed bag of rate increases or decreases (depending on the specific business line or territory), as well as significant rate increases in the retrocession markets, according to Guy…
Combined ratio up 7.9 points at Allied World
April 21, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterAllied World Assurance Company Holdings AG reported Tuesday its combined ratio deteriorated 7.9 points, from 88.1% during the first quarter of 2015 to 96% in the three months ending March 31, while net premiums written dropped 8.9%. Zug, Switzerland-based Allied…