What surprises this broker about sports insurance
March 11, 2019 Dan Ralph THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – He has played Canadian university football and coached the game, but Todd Smith is waiting before he lets his two sons get on the field. “I’m not in a rush to put my kids into football just knowing…
Winter storm shuts down schools, disrupts travel in Maritime provinces
March 4, 2019 The Canadian PressHALIFAX – Schools and government offices across the Maritimes were closed Monday as a snowstorm swept across the region, the second nasty blast of winter in as many days. A blustery mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain enveloped…
Why some homeowners aren’t buying flood insurance
March 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOverland flood insurance might be easier to sell if homeowners could figure out how vulnerable their properties are. “What would be most useful for homeowners is they would be able to search their postal code or property address and be…
This technology can help attract talent
February 28, 2019 by Greg MeckbachUsing technology like artificial intelligence can help insurers attract the right people and keep them engaged, suggests the head of a major Canadian insurer. “It’s a tough talent market right now across the leading insurance markets in the world. Canada…
What real-time, broker-carrier connectivity might cost
February 27, 2019 by David GambrillNinety insurance companies working with Ontario’s broker channel would be looking at a total investment of $4 billion over five years to conform to the CSIO XML standards required for an industry-wide, real-time data exchange solution between brokers and carriers.…
How modernization of payment systems in Canada could increase cyber claims
February 26, 2019 by Jason ContantWhile theft of funds remains a relatively minor source of Canadian cyber claims for one specialist insurer, it is expected to grow as further modernization of payment systems takes place in the country. CFC Underwriting released Friday its 2018 cyber…
Ontario’s latest wind storm: is it as costly as last year’s wind cat?
February 25, 2019 by Jason ContantThe strong wind storm that continues across parts of Ontario Monday is being compared to the costliest insured loss event of 2018. Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 24, a powerful, sustained wind storm caused blizzard conditions and damaging winds across Ontario.…
What it will take for another interest rate hike
February 21, 2019 Andy Blatchford THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – The head of the Bank of Canada says his trend-setting interest rate is low enough, at its below-inflation level of 1.75 per cent, that it’s delivering stimulative effects to the economy. But even in the stronger economy, governor…
Atlantic Canada brokerage acquires family-owned operation
February 15, 2019 by Jason ContantArchway Insurance, one of Atlantic Canada’s largest brokerages, has announced the acquisition of family brokerage George Mitchell Insurance in Liverpool, N.S. Amherst, N.S.-headquartered Archway announced the acquisition Thursday. Effective Feb. 28, 2019, Archway’s latest acquisition brings its number of locations…
Why post-tropical storms can be worse than the original storm
February 13, 2019 by Jason ContantInland flood damage arising from post-tropical storms can be an even greater risk than wind damage, a meteorologist from Aon said last week at the CatIQ Connect conference in downtown Toronto. “That’s concerning because here in Canada, as in the…
What the industry learned from the costliest catastrophe of 2018
February 7, 2019 by Jason ContantThe sheer volume of claims following the windstorm that swept through southern Ontario and Quebec last May led to critical service disruptions, after so many consumers called at once to report their claims to their insurers. “I’m not sure people…
Why brokers hail the D/X Initiative as “the start of the revolution”
February 7, 2019 by David GambrillA “watershed moment” of industry cooperation could lead in April to what brokers are heralding as the most significant technology breakthrough in broker-carrier connectivity in decades. Representatives of every broker association across the country met in Toronto on Jan. 29,…