Ontario’s plans for auto insurance reform still under wraps
August 2, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA month after being sworn into office, Ontario’s new political rulers have been silent on the issue of auto insurance reform. “We haven’t heard anything formal yet from government,” confirmed Pete Karageorgos, the director of consumer and industry relations for…
The danger of lying about gender for cheaper auto insurance
August 1, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf a young male motorist is thinking of telling his insurer he is female for the sole purpose of getting a lower rate, there is some simple advice a broker can give: Don’t do it. This is because a motorist’s…
Where private auto insurance rates are rising the fastest in Canada
July 31, 2018 by Jason ContantOntario’s premium rates are rising the fastest among Canada’s private passenger auto insurance regimes, according to the Q2 2018 Auto Insurance Price Index from LowestRates.ca. A measure of only private passenger auto insurance regimes in Canada, the index from the…
Questions to ask clients who serve alcohol
July 30, 2018 by Jason ContantRisk managers in the restaurant and bar business need to “mine” for information from potential insureds to make sure they exercise their duty of care in serving alcohol responsibly. “From a risk management standpoint, what’s key is the insured is…
What your hospitality clients need to know about their liability limits
July 29, 2018 by Jason ContantIn the restaurant and bar business, those serving alcohol are trained to recognize the symptoms of intoxication to prevent an “overservice” problem, and subsequent liability to the business. But what happens when a customer has been drinking in multiple establishments before…
Controversy swirls around province’s plan for ridesharing insurance
July 24, 2018 by Jason ContantB.C.’s provincial government will introduce legislation to enable ridesharing in the province by fall of 2019, prompting the industry’s private insurers to say they can provide ridesharing insurance faster and better than the province’s public insurer. B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation…
Cop cuts deal with driver over fake insurance offence
July 24, 2018 The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – A Delta, B.C., police officer who ticketed drivers for offences that didn’t happen has won a review of the suspension and demotion proposed by the province’s police complaint commissioner. Const. Byron Ritchie was seeking a public hearing after…
Where provincial drivers crashed an average of 960 times a day
July 22, 2018 by Jason ContantVehicle crashes in British Columbia hit an all-time high of 350,000 in 2017, the province’s public insurer reported this week. This equates to about 960 crashes a day – a 25% increase from 2014. “That means one out of 10…
Where Canadian drivers pay the most (and least) for auto insurance
July 19, 2018 by Jason ContantWhen it comes to auto insurance premiums in Canada, drivers in British Columbia pay the most, followed by Ontario, data supplied by Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) revealed Wednesday. In B.C. last year, average annual auto premiums were $1,680. The…
What the court said about a family law approach to “spouse” in auto AB claim
July 11, 2018 by David GambrillThe meaning of the term “spouse” under the Family Law Act is not applicable when determining eligibility for accident benefits under an auto insurance policy, an Ontario court has ruled in a priority dispute between insurers. In Royal & Sun…
Parents of Humboldt Broncos player killed in crash sue truck driver, bus maker
July 10, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSREGINA – The family of one of the Humboldt Broncos players killed in a highway crash has filed a lawsuit alleging a semi-truck driver with inadequate training failed to stop at a flashing stop sign at a rural intersection hidden…
How this insurer fared against a drunk driver’s “regurgitation” defence
July 10, 2018 by David GambrillAfter a drunk driver regurgitates alcohol from the stomach to the mouth, taking a breathalyzer test just seconds shy of a 15-minute wait period doesn’t necessarily render the test invalid, a B.C. court has found. In reaching its conclusion, the…