The ‘hidden’ cyber risks of remote work
May 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachCommercial clients are vulnerable to hidden risks when they have large numbers of people suddenly working remotely or from home in a disaster, as we are seeing in the pandemic, experts told brokers listening in to Canadian Underwriter’s latest webinar.…
Why it’s hard to determine liability when a plaintiff catches coronavirus in nursing home
May 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachLiability insurers and courts could be entering uncharted legal territory when dealing with class-action lawsuits against nursing homes or long-term care homes in which residents have become sick and died from the coronavirus. In some cases, a question before a…
How pandemic is affecting this Top 5 insurer’s bottom line
May 1, 2020 by Greg MeckbachDelays in construction projects, business interruption, and reduced frequency of vehicle accidents will have an impact on insured losses, but it’s too early to predict exact numbers, The Co-operators General Insurance Company suggested in recent securities filing. “Given the many…
Canada now in a recession: C.D. Howe council
May 1, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – The C.D. Howe Institute’s Business Cycle Council says Canada has entered a recession due to the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a report released Friday, the council said the economy peaked in February before the…
Ecclesiastical Insurance offers advice on mitigating flood damage during the COVID-19 pandemic
May 1, 2020 Ecclesiastical InsuranceTORONTO, ON, MAY 1, 2020/insPRESS/ – Spring overland flooding has already caused extensive damage in Northern Alberta, in what is likely only the first significant flood event in Canada this season. Under normal circumstances, damage caused by floodwater can be…
How brokerages can avoid the ‘single point of failure’ while workforce is at home
April 30, 2020 by Adam MalikBrokerages need to make sure they’re investing in technology that benefits the brokerage as a whole rather than promoting a silo-type of environment, Steve Whitelaw, vice president of industry and partner relations at Applied Systems, cautioned in a webinar recently.…
BI claims during COVID: What the courts will examine first
April 30, 2020 by Greg MeckbachWhen business interruption coverage disputes arising from COVID-19 make their way into court, judges may look at whether insurers priced for pandemic, but by far the key consideration will be policy language, says one insurance defence lawyer. “Because an insurance…
How Aon avoided laying off employees
April 30, 2020 by Adam MalikAon Canada employees will see their salaries reduced as part of an effort to ensure that no one at the company is laid off as a result of the economic upheaval created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The brokerage provided Canadian…
Ice jam that caused flooding, evacuation in Fort McMurray melting
April 30, 2020 THE CANADIAN PRESSFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – An ice jam on the Athabasca River is nearly half the size it was earlier this week when it caused major flooding in Fort McMurray and forced 13,000 people from their homes. The Regional Municipality of…
How this brokerage is re-opening to the public
April 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachTo help serve its auto customers better, a Regina-based brokerage that shut its doors to the public due to COVID-19 plans to start letting clients into its offices. “Our brokerages have been doing what we can without physically seeing the…
At-home workers need to prevent these people from using their computers
April 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBrokerages looking to manage their own cyber risk and advise commercial clients about their cyber risks should look to one major golden rule when employees work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Your family members should not be using your…
Under-used buildings increase this risk during pandemic
April 29, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBrokers and their commercial business clients returning to the office after a long shutdown may want to think twice before drinking the tap water. Business shutdowns affecting commercial property as a result of the coronavirus mean less water is running…