Relying on government to solve “big shake” problem courts continued procrastination: Tannas
May 25, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichThe potential for procrastination to address the consequences of a large earthquake in Canada are persistent and pervasive, demanding implementation of a tactical plan that could see “the issue dealt with, one way or another, in the next 12 months,”…
Ontario government ‘taking lessons learned’ from Fukushima nuclear disaster: Lalonde
May 23, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterOntario’s community safety and correctional services minister is calling on “everyone interested” to comment on proposed changes to the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan. The province is home to the world’s largest nuclear operating facility, Bruce Power reports on its…
Insurance industry should look ahead to even larger losses than Fort McMurray, ICLR chair suggests
May 5, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe insurance industry should start thinking about what “could have been” if the Fort McMurray wildfire had been an even larger loss, the chair of Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) said on Friday at the institute’s annual general meeting.…
Mobile earthquake simulator to visit Quebec in May and June
May 3, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is inviting Quebecers to experience the Quake Cottage, a mobile earthquake simulator, this month and next. As part of its earthquake preparedness campaign, IBC will be touring Quebec cities and shopping centres from La…
Aftershocks still rumbling following 6.2 quake that jolted Yukon, northwest B.C.
May 2, 2017 The Canadian PressWHITEHORSE – More than 100 aftershocks had shivered across the Alaska Panhandle, southern Yukon and parts of northwestern British Columbia by early Tuesday following two powerful earthquakes a day earlier, but seismologists say while people need to be prepared, it…
Canada lacks ‘commercially widely available wildfire models,’ Aviva Canada reinsurance VP warns
May 2, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorInsurers have no “meaningful way of modelling wildfire” losses, a senior executive for Swiss Re Ltd. recently suggested to industry professionals. “If you look at it globally speaking, usually about half of the total insured losses globally are unmodelled perils,”…
PACICC to participate in federal government’s review of insolvency legislation next year
April 18, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorThe Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation (PACICC) will participate in the federal government’s review of financial sector regulations next year, including the examination of an act that has not “really been reviewed” in more than a century. The Winding-up…
Preparation, not panic, is the way to address earthquake risk: IBC’s Don Forgeron
April 7, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichWhen talk turns to the possibility of a major earthquake in Canada, Don Forgeron, president and CEO of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), advises that the response should be to prepare, not to panic. “No one should spend their day…
Southern U.S. crop losses from March storm could exceed $1 billion: Aon
April 7, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterA weather system that brought sub-freezing temperatures to South Carolina and Georgia, as well as heavy rains in Peru were among the catastrophes with economic losses exceeding $1 billion in March, Aon plc’s Impact Forecasting unit reported Friday in its…
More action needed to better prepare for earthquake in Canada: Scotti
April 6, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichCanada would be well-advised to take a cue from other nations and do more to establish partnerships and requirements that better protect property owners in the event of an earthquake, says Veronica Scotti, president and CEO of Swiss Re Canada.…
Government of British Columbia invests in tsunami, earthquake warning systems
March 28, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe government of British Columbia has announced $550,000 in funding for increased capability for tsunami warnings and the potential to provide earthquake early warnings. British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement on Tuesday that the $550,000…
Global insured losses from disasters up 42%, economic losses almost double in 2016 over 2015: Swiss Re
March 28, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterBoth economic and insured losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2016 were the highest since 2012 – reversing a four-year downtrend – amounting to US$54 billion and US$175 billion, respectively, notes the latest sigma study from the Swiss…