What’s making wildfires more severe?
November 12, 2018 By Seth Borenstein - THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON – Both nature and humans share blame for California’s devastating wildfires, but forest management did not play a major role, despite President Donald Trump’s claims, fire scientists say. Nature provides the dangerous winds that have whipped the fires, and…
How business interruption claims could play out in the legal marijuana space
November 8, 2018 by Jason ContantSupply challenges associated with marijuana legalization in Canada will lead to potentially costly business interruption (BI) and contingent business interruption (CBI) claims, an adjusting firm told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. Because it’s an emerging market, there are a limited number of…
Why marijuana plant value is so important for adjusters
November 7, 2018 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters handling recreational cannabis claims will need to consider the value of the plant at any given time in the growing process to determine actual loss, an independent adjusting firm said Tuesday. Potential cannabis greenhouse loss is much greater…
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…
Raise auto accident benefits: Ontario politician
October 31, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe cuts to mandatory auto accident benefits made in 2010 and 2016 need a second look, says Ontario’s opposition auto insurance critic. “It’s something we need to re-examine,” Gurratan Singh, the New Democratic Party’s auto insurance critic, said Wednesday in…
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 you might need an investment banker to help place commercial insurance
October 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf your mid or large-sized commercial clients are involved in mergers and acquisitions, there are risks involved and insurance to address those risks, but it’s not like selling fire insurance. “It is not a simple case of saying, ‘Fill out…
Three strong earthquakes reported off Canadian coast
October 22, 2018 The Canadian PressThree relatively strong earthquakes were recorded Sunday night in the Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 6.6 magnitude quake about 260 kilometres west of Tofino, followed by a 6.8 tremor and then a third measuring…
Mandatory building fire risk labels proposed
October 7, 2018 by Greg MeckbachFire safety can be impacted if a building is made from lightweight, prefabricated material, and legislation under debate would mandate placards for certain construction types in Ontario. “Truss and lightweight construction, when exposed to fire, can pose serious risks to responding firefighters,” Randy…
Artist or hoarder? Why insurers don’t like clutter
October 2, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSelf-employed artists who work from their own apartments with large quantities of material should have sprinkler systems and firewalls, a Toronto fire inspector suggests. In 2017, Toronto Fire Services ordered an apartment tenant – identified only as K.R. – to…
Walmart fined $20K for selling contaminated food after Fort McMurray wildfire
October 1, 2018 The Canadian PressFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Walmart Canada has been ordered to pay a $20,000 fine for selling contaminated food after a devastating wildfire in northern Alberta two years ago. Some of the charges against Walmart included failing to dispose of food…
Kingsway Financial to leave Canada
September 28, 2018 by Greg MeckbachKingsway Financial Services Inc., which used to own Jevco and York Fire and Casualty, plans to relocate to the United States. Toronto-based Kingsway no longer writes property and casualty insurance in Canada, but it still has a Toronto head office…