Paid IoT Solutions and Claims Reductions
May 17, 2019 Eddy SolutionsAt just after 10 am on an average Thursday morning, a 20-floor apartment building in downtown Toronto experienced a leak in their riser stack between the 5th and 6th floor. The leak was detected by an IoT sensor system, which…
How career prospects are looking in risk management
May 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAre you one of those brokers who’s thinking of changing jobs so that you’re buying commercial insurance instead of selling it? “There is a shortage of supply [of risk managers], so if anybody is looking for a fast way to…
Why liability and reputational risk is changing
May 15, 2019 by Greg MeckbachTechnology is making it easier for consumers and businesses to move money, but it can also create new liability risks, fraud experts warned Tuesday. “Financial institutions really have to think about their position on liability,” said Jas Anand, senior manager…
BFL Canada acquires B.C. brokerage
May 15, 2019 by Jason ContantLarge commercial brokerage BFL Canada announced Tuesday the acquisition of British Columbia-based Summit Insurance Brokers Inc. Summit, based in Prince George, was founded in the late 1990s and brings expertise in industrial, commercial and farm risks to BFL Canada. Summit…
How Fairfax’s Allied World acquisition is working out
May 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOld medical malpractice claims with Allied World Assurance Company are still affecting the bottom line of Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which bought the majority of Allied World nearly two years ago. With a combined ratio of 102.3%, Zug, Switzerland-based…
New judge represented Insurance Bureau at Supreme Court of Canada
May 9, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA lawyer who represented the Insurance Bureau of Canada at the Supreme Court of Canada in impaired driving cases as been appointed to the bench. Stikeman Elliott LLP partner Nicholas McHaffie was named a Federal Court of Canada judge and…
How kitty litter can impact insured property losses
May 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhile spring rains and thawing have caused overland flooding of Biblical proportions, drain backups are also the bane of some insurers’ existence. In multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, drain backups are the number one cause of damage, said Adam Bartman,…
Former Economical Insurance CEO joins another board
May 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachKaren Gavan, former CEO of the first Canadian property and casualty insurer to start the demutualization process, is now on the board of directors of HSBC Canada. Gavan (pictured) was CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Economical Insurance from 2011 through 2016.…
Should insurers offer incentive for remote water shut-off?
May 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf your client owns a multi-storey commercial or residential building and installs a system that lets them shut water off immediately if necessary, how easy is it to get a break on insurance? “To the best of our knowledge there…
Hub acquires full-service Saskatchewan brokerage
May 6, 2019 by Jason ContantGlobal insurance brokerage Hub International announced Monday it has acquired the assets of Saskatchewan brokerage Kelliher Agencies. Headquartered in Kelliher, Sask., the brokerage is a full-service, independent insurance brokerage that provides personal, commercial, farm and specialty products insurance. “Its focus…
Intact’s BrokerLink makes double acquisition
May 3, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokerLink has announced the acquisition of two brokerages: the Athabasca, Alta. branch of JDR Insurance and Guelph, Ont.-based Amplex Insurance Brokers Ltd. Both transactions were effective May 1 and terms of the transactions were not disclosed, BrokerLink said in a…
How brokers personally assist during floods
May 2, 2019 by Jason ContantThe flooding last year in Grand Forks, B.C. was a prime example of how an insurance broker provides more than just policy advice and advocacy when disaster strikes. A broker could provide money upfront for additional living expenses, emotional support…