Recurring back pain and auto liability: how this court applied the two-year limit
March 12, 2019 by David GambrillIf an injured cyclist in an auto liability action declares feeling better after treatment, takes a year off work, and then feels debilitating back pain after returning to work three years after the accident, does the two-year statute of limitations…
Institute serves up a new look to insurance education
March 12, 2019 by David GambrillPerhaps you have noticed something different lately about some of the course materials for your Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation? If you open up your new textbook for the CIP course, Underwriting Essentials, for example, you will notice something new…
How RSA plans to shore up its personal lines results in Canada
March 11, 2019 by David GambrillExpect RSA in Canada to take remedial underwriting actions in its personal lines portfolio – including auto rate increases of between 3% and 16%, and potentially selected broker cancellations – in order to shore up results after a tough year…
How to sell commercial coverage to small businesses
March 8, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokers looking to sell commercial coverage to small businesses need to keep it simple, fast and client-specific, industry professionals told Canadian Underwriter Thursday. Sometimes when buzzwords like artificial intelligence, blockchain and chatbots dominate the conversation, the cart comes before the…
How Aviva Canada’s profitability fared in 2018
March 7, 2019 by David GambrillEditor’s Note: This version of the article includes a correction showing that operating profit was flat at £46 million (approximately Cdn$82 million in 2018, and Cdn$78 million in 2017). A previous version incorrectly showed the operating profit of 46 million…
This research can help defend slip and fall claims
March 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf your client owns or manages a property, can it put a number on the slipperiness of the surfaces? This is what companies managing an Ottawa property did after they were sued for $2.9 million by a civil servant who…
What lies behind the unexpected Alberta quake
March 6, 2019 by Jason ContantPerhaps the largest-ever earthquake to hit a section of central Alberta caused no immediate reports of damage, but knocked out power for more than 4,000 customers. Could fracking be the culprit? In this case, Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is probing…
The insurance implications of digital healthcare
March 5, 2019 by Jason ContantAs the digital healthcare market continues to evolve, the insurance industry in Canada should consider gaps or exclusions in current policies and the need for a bespoke option. Digital healthcare will include a focus on two areas: Telemedicine – remote…
One simple way to reduce the severity of barn fires
March 4, 2019 by Jason ContantEnhancing building codes to include early detection systems could help generate a faster response in the case of farm fires, said Ken Worsley, who leads Cowan Insurance Group’s national agri-commercial industry practice. Early response systems include things like heat, fire…
One politician’s idea for reducing the severity of school bus crashes
March 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachSeatbelts with shoulder harnesses should be mandatory on all school buses, an opposition member of Ontario’s provincial parliament told Canadian Underwriter Friday. “We should have the use of three-point seat belts on school buses to prevent injury and even death,”…
Your landlord agrees to insure the property. Why the landlord can still subrogate against you
February 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA Thunder Bay restaurant operator has lost its bid to block an insurer from filing a subrogated claim arising from a fire. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Feb. 21 it will not hear an appeal from the Sushi Station…
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.…