Three ways to improve document management
November 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachBrokers moving towards a paperless office should watch how much time their staff spend scanning documents. “There is a big difference between scanning for personal use and scanning for business,” said Steve Oblin, senior marketing manager for Fujitsu Canada Inc.’s…
What Intact likes about proposed bill on territorial ratings
November 7, 2018 by Jason ContantCanada’s largest insurer is supportive of one element of a private member’s bill that would rescind an Ontario regulatory bulletin that sets limits on territorial rating factors. Bill 42, the Ending Discrimination in Automobile Insurance Act, was tabled Oct. 15…
Insurance without the carrier coming soon
November 7, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA blockchain-based business insurance model that could see non-regulated investors as the capital providers is coming sooner that you think, although it may not necessarily arrive in Canada in the short term, predicts an executive who has led two major…
Brokers give performance-based pay a thumbs-up
November 6, 2018 by David GambrillThis story is one in a series reporting on the results of 2018 National Broker Survey, conducted by Canadian Underwriter. The survey of more than 800 P&C brokers nationally was designed to identify the success strategies of both producers and principals. Find other instalments in the…
New Brunswick pulp and paper firm fined $3.5 million for pollution
November 6, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSSAINT JOHN, N.B. – Irving Pulp and Paper Ltd. has been hit with one of largest penalties ever imposed in Canada for an environmental violation. The company, based in Saint John, N.B., was fined $3.5 million Monday for dumping improperly…
$260 billion cleanup estimate based on ‘worst case’ scenario: energy regulator
November 5, 2018 Dan Healing - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – The Alberta Energy Regulator is apologizing for estimating it would cost $260 billion to clean up after the provincial oil and gas industry. The sector’s accumulated environmental liability is currently estimated at $58.65 billion, less than one quarter…
Top 10 Under 40, 2018: Jonathan Langlois, Vézina Assurances
November 2, 2018 Danielle KubesWho are the brightest young talents in Canadian P&C today? Each year, Canadian Insurance Top Broker magazine (recently acquired by CU) answers that question with its Top 10 Under 40. Meet the other winners here, and don’t forget to pick…
The damage caused by this tanker truck crash on Ontario highway
November 1, 2018 Adam Burns and Alanna Rizza - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Two men were killed in a multi-vehicle crash that sparked a massive tanker fire on a major toll highway in the Toronto area on Wednesday, emergency officials said. The crash happened just before 5 p.m. on Highway 407…
The case for paying brokers on a 100% commission basis
October 30, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers in favour of performance-based compensation point to its benefits in promoting customer service to clients. At Surex Direct, a Magrath, Alta.-based online brokerage that is 100% commission-based, customer service is key, said Ryan Kirk, vice president of operations for…
Higher speed limits increased auto claims 43% in this province
October 29, 2018 by Jason ContantIncreased rural highway speed limits in British Columbia had “large and statistically significant” increases in total insurance claims, injury claims and fatal crashes, a recent study has found. Over the course of the study, there were annual averages of 265,187…
The special insurance needs of art collectors
October 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA recent prank by an anonymous street artist shows that collectibles – which require special insurance – can become more valuable if they are damaged. “Normally when a piece of art is damaged, it would drop in value,” Kelly Juhasz,…
Why this brokerage doesn’t focus on performance-based compensation
October 22, 2018 by Jason ContantCreating competition in the workplace is not a good environment for growing teamwork and is one of the reasons an independent insurance brokerage in Nova Scotia doesn’t focus on performance-based compensation. “Our notion on compensation is that we are trying…