Alberta rolls out new rules forcing industry to pay for abandoned well cleanup
December 1, 2021 The Canadian PressCALGARY – Alberta’s oil and gas regulator has rolled out new rules aimed at addressing the growing problem of inactive and abandoned wells in the province. The new rules will require the energy industry to spend $422 million next year…
Saskatchewan to amend employment act to recognize workplace sexual harassment
November 19, 2021 The Canadian PressREGINA – Saskatchewan is proposing to amend its employment act to recognize sexual harassment in the workplace. The government has introduced legislation to make it clear that any unwelcome action of a sexual nature constitutes harassment. The amendment also covers…
Stability, finally? What insurers and brokers can look forward to in 2022
November 12, 2021 Brooke SmithBrokers and insurers may see some stabilization in the market in 2022. “We saw tremendous rate pressure, high operating ratios, and low ROIs in 2019 and 2020,” said Kevin Neiles, president, Western Canada and chief markets officer at Gallagher, during…
Spooky Halloween risks that need an insurance policy
October 28, 2021 by Jason ContantSome insurance professionals will be donning costumes at the (virtual) office this Halloween, and others will be taking their kids out trick-or-treating on the weekend. But just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about insurance altogether. London,…
Why the Supreme Court of Canada validated this limitation-of-liability clause
October 15, 2021 by Greg MeckbachA software consulting firm that was sued in Quebec for $6.25 million can rely on a limitation of liability clause in its consulting and integration contract, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a decision released Friday. In 6362222 Canada…
‘Bodily injury expected or intended’ exclusion applies to daycare seeking liability coverage
September 29, 2021 by Greg MeckbachLiability insurer Northbridge does not have to cover a Prince George, British Columbia daycare owner accused of shaking a child severely enough to cause brain injury, a judge ruled last week. A lawsuit, against the person operating the daycare, was…
Renting out backyard swimming pools can be lucrative, but experts warn of risks
August 20, 2021 Amanda Stephenson - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – Stephanie Sabela didn’t know what to expect when she first decided to list her backyard swimming pool for rent on the popular online platform, Swimply. Sabela, who lives on a five-acre property north of Toronto in King Township,…
Archdiocese selling land to pay survivors of Mount Cashel abuse
July 27, 2021 The Canadian PressST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The Roman Catholic archdiocese in Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city is selling properties to pay survivors of abuse at the former Mount Cashel orphanage. Archbishop of St. John’s Peter Hundt said in a news release Sunday…
Abandoned oil and gas wells will be cleaned up despite backlog: Alberta regulator
May 31, 2021 Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESSEDMONTON – There’s lots of life in Alberta’s conventional oil industry and plenty of resources and political will to clean up the mess it leaves behind, says the head of the province’s energy regulator. “Will there be halcyon-days growth in…
Study finds abandoned oil and gas wells place unfair burden on landowners, taxpayers
May 20, 2021 The Canadian PressCALGARY – The costs of Alberta’s growing stock of abandoned and inactive oil and gas wells are falling unfairly on landowners and taxpayers, says a report from the University of Calgary. “Landowners have been left behind,” said Braeden Larson of…
Ontario nursing homes badly prepared for COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general says
April 28, 2021 Colin Perkel - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Ontario’s nursing homes were woefully unprepared for the onslaught of COVID-19 – the culmination of years of neglect and failure to address known problems, the province’s auditor general said on Wednesday. In a special report, Bonnie Lysyk took…
Supreme Court of Canada considers municipal liability in snow removal decisions
April 8, 2021 by Greg MeckbachMunicipalities are not liable for “policy decisions” on matters such as snowplowing, but lawyers disagree on exactly what kind of a “policy decision” could shield a government from liability in a personal injury lawsuit. “Back home in Newfoundland, when there…