What brokers need to tell homeowners hiring renovators
January 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachBrokers placing home insurance should be advising clients on how to vet renovation contractors, a spokesperson for a bidding website advises. Some contractors could be working on homes without having workers compensation insurance, and while they may have insurance certificates…
2018 Outlook: Denis Dubois, President, COO, Desjardins General Insurance Group
December 29, 2017 Denis DuboisCanada’s property and casualty insurance industry will continue to evolve rapidly in 2018 in response to accelerating technology, changing customer expectations and climate change. Technology is a double-edged sword for insurers. Vehicles are safer than ever thanks to multiple sensors…
Hockey Fight in Canada—insuring our national sport
November 24, 2017 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefWhen William Carrier of the Vegas Golden Knights dropped the gloves to fight Michael Liambus of the Anaheim Ducks last Wednesday, hockeyfights.com posted footage of the battle, asked viewers to rate the fight, and logged the event as the 70th…
Adjusters wonder how to verify ridesharing driver hours
November 24, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorVerifying the number of hours a driver uses ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft could be problematic for underwriters and adjusters, one adjuster told Canadian Underwriter on Wednesday. “In the course of their investigation, an adjuster can ask, ‘How…
Are Lyft drivers insured like Uber drivers?
November 21, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorGiven Lyft’s promised arrival in Canada by the end of the year, insurance coverage for the ride-sharing service remains a big question mark. “I am concerned because I have not yet heard that Lyft has contracted with anyone to provide…
Four markets for Airbnb coverage
November 20, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorWith Vancouver City Council voting to approve new regulations for short-term rentals, including Airbnb, and Toronto considering the move, the question remains: who is insuring these rentals? Stefan Tirschler, product and underwriting manager at Vancouver-based Square One Insurance Services, told…
Toronto company confirms user information stolen from six hacked websites
November 15, 2017 The Canadian Press (CPSTF)Toronto-based VerticalScope Inc. says six of the community websites it administers were hacked last month in the latest of a recent series of data breaches affecting Canadian online user information. The company says in an emailed statement an “unauthorized party”…
January 1, 2017 Legislative changes: Will they mitigate motor vehicle property claim costs?
November 3, 2017 Lisa M. CarrOntario passed Bill 15, the Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act in 2014. That law made changes to both the Repair and Storage Liens Act and Consumer Protection Act.
Traditional homeowners’ insurance on a collision course with the sharing economy
November 3, 2017 Laura L. Emmett and Kaitlyn E. ArmstrongThe Rise of the Sharing Economy Consumers are increasingly interested in leasing and sharing products rather than buying and owning them. The aptly named “sharing economy” is growing rapidly, fueled in part by social media, which facilitates communication between peers…
Property Loss Update: A review of recent cases, Part 1
November 3, 2017 Glenn GibsonThere have been a number of very important cases in recent months involving coverage issues, which are worthy of note. The Supreme Court of Canada has now become involved in trying to clarify the process that should be followed in…
MPs debate proposed rail safety laws
November 2, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterLegislation mandating voice and video recorders in locomotives “needs to be better thought out” and it is not reasonable to deny shippers of toxic inhalation hazards access to a proposed long-haul rail interswitching mechanism, opposition members of parliament suggested this…
Peace Hills Insurance partners with DAS Canada on legal expense insurance
November 1, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterPeace Hills Insurance announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with DAS Canada to offer legal expense insurance to homeowner, condo and tenant policyholders. Peace Hills Insurance said in a press release on Wednesday that the new Legal Expense Insurance…