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Where Intact sees commercial premiums heading after pandemic is over

May 26, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

Many commercial clients are “hurting” because of COVID-19, but once the pandemic is over, small businesses currently under lockdown could see their insurance rates rise, Intact Financial Corp. executives suggest. “The biggest difference between the environment in which we operate

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How the pandemic has shifted employers’ priorities ‘overnight’

May 25, 2021 by Jason Contant

More than one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a massive, “overnight” shift in employers’ appetite towards employee benefits plans, Hub International speakers said during a recent webinar. “There’s a fast movement towards wellness, virtual services, virtual health

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What’s driving auto claims costs during pandemic

May 21, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The long-tail nature of auto bodily injury claims, in addition to insurers’ fixed claims adjustment costs, are among the reasons why insurers are not likely going to reduce auto premiums in proportion to the drop in driving observed during COVID-19.

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How to support your P&C employees in transitioning to the new workplace

May 20, 2021 by Jason Contant

Employers in the Canadian P&C insurance industry must shift their role to supporting employees and their families following more than a year of working from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Hub International speakers said during a webinar Wednesday.

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Restaurants want exemption from reduced wage subsidy as Ontario keeps dining shut

May 14, 2021 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Restaurant owners say they are concerned about operations as federal subsidies begin to wind down, even as provinces like Ontario extend stay-at-home or lockdown measures. Restaurants Canada is seeking an exemption from the federal government’s scheduled phase-out of

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Aon’s approach to post-pandemic travel and entertainment

May 11, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

As business leaders await an easing of pandemic lockdown restrictions, Aon Plc executives suggest that, going forward, they plan to apply the lessons they’ve learned during COVID-19 regarding collaboration. “We are going to be smart about how we do [travel

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Canadian primary insurers may align with reinsurers’ new communicable disease exclusions

May 10, 2021 by Jason Contant

Canadian insurers may introduce new communicable disease exclusions to harmonize policy language with their revised reinsurance policies, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) said recently.  International reinsurance markets introduced a new communicable diseases exclusion in many countries over the past few

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Lower visits, revenue reported as pandemic measures created unpredictable ski season

May 6, 2021 Dan Healing - THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY – Measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic made for a bumpy ride for most of the ski and snowboard industry in Canada, as revenues slumped even at resorts that were able to maintain near-normal lift ticket sales in a

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‘Pandamennial’ careers take a nosedive: Why the industry should help

May 5, 2021 by Adam Malik

Global events have delayed the career development of young insurance professionals and the P&C industry needs to figure out how to help, risk manager execs said during the recent RIMS Live 2021 virtual conference. Colleen Zitt, chief risk officer at

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Fairfax takes a stand against using COVID as a reason to fire staff

May 3, 2021 by Greg Meckbach

The parent company of Northbridge Insurance took a stand against cutting staff due to the pandemic. “One of the things we did last year is we said [to the president of each Fairfax-owned insurer], ‘You cannot use COVID-19 as a

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Port of Montreal volumes fall for first time in seven years due to pandemic, strikes

May 3, 2021 The Canadian Press

MONTREAL – The COVID-19 pandemic, a dockworkers strike and a rail blockage hit the Port of Montreal, which saw its cargo volumes fall in 2020 for the first time in seven years. The port says its volumes fell 14 per

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Risk managers’ takeaway from COVID-19: Yes, it can happen to us

April 23, 2021 by Adam Malik

The global COVID-19 pandemic has taught risk managers to be prepared for any threats, no matter how unlikely or far-fetched they may seem, industry experts said at a RIMS conference webinar panel. The risk of a pandemic has been on