How much business Sonnet writes for Economical
February 22, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDirect writer Sonnet accounted for about 5% of Economical Insurance‘s premiums in 2018, the Waterloo, Ont. mutual reported Thursday. “While Sonnet requires additional scale to achieve profitability, we now have sufficient insights and experience to improve performance, and we have…
How landmark voyeurism ruling impacts insurers
February 22, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf your client is sued for breach of privacy, the judge could look to last week’s voyeurism ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada for guidance, a privacy lawyer suggests. In R. v. Jarvis, released Feb. 14, the Supreme Court…
Are cannabis edibles a “drug”? What adjusters should be asking
February 22, 2019 by Jason ContantClaims adjusters’ questions should address potential policy wording dilemmas related to the upcoming legalization of cannabis edibles later this year, a lawyer told Canadian Underwriter recently. For example, consider the following question in the context of edible cannabis (or even…
AB case generates massive confusion around “but for” causation test
February 21, 2019 by Jason ContantA recent Ontario accident benefits case has highlighted ongoing confusion about how to identify and apply the proper causation test — including the contentious “but for” clause. The case revolves around whether the “but for” test of causation or the…
The two main benefits of parametric insurance
February 20, 2019 by Jason ContantSpeed is one of the main benefits of parametric insurance compared to traditional forms of insurance, with the underwriting process taking just several days to two weeks, speakers from AXA Global Parametrics in France said Tuesday. Parametrics is index-based insurance,…
The impact of hardening Lloyd’s market on Fairfax
February 20, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA tough Lloyd’s market and California’s worst-ever wildfire led to an underwriting loss for Brit Plc, which Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired in 2015. Fairfax officials faced pointed questions during its recent earnings call from one analyst who suggested…
What can happen if client fails to insure valuable shipment
February 20, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSHALIFAX – A top Canadian naval officer is out 50 rare coins he valued at $38,000 with little to show for it, after a Nova Scotia small claims court found FedEx Canada not liable for the full value of his…
What your clients need to know about trip cancellation insurance
February 19, 2019 by David GambrillYour clients have a lot to learn about trip cancellation insurance. Almost two-thirds of Canadians either don’t buy or are unsure if they have trip cancellation insurance before leaving on holiday, according to a recent study of 960 Canadians by…
How expert witness restrictions impact insurers
February 15, 2019 by Greg MeckbachInsurance Corporation of British Columbia will save millions as a result of new auto injury lawsuit rules for the province, which will likely cut costs for other carriers as well, the provincial government says. ICBC, which is losing over $1…
Atlantic Canada brokerage acquires family-owned operation
February 15, 2019 by Jason ContantArchway Insurance, one of Atlantic Canada’s largest brokerages, has announced the acquisition of family brokerage George Mitchell Insurance in Liverpool, N.S. Amherst, N.S.-headquartered Archway announced the acquisition Thursday. Effective Feb. 28, 2019, Archway’s latest acquisition brings its number of locations…
Captive insurance programs target commercial auto in Canada
February 15, 2019 by Jason ContanteCaptiv, which provides alternative and captive insurance solutions in Canada and the United States, will be forming two group captives through an exclusive group of independent insurance brokers to “combat commercial auto trends in Canada.” The programs are in the…
Opta acquires getClarity: linking property and risk data with consumer profiles
February 14, 2019 by David GambrillWith its recent acquisition of getClarity, Opta Information Intelligence is expanding into the area of customer and prospect behaviour. Opta is Canada’s largest property data aggregator and a provider of risk intelligence and loss control services. Its solutions include iClarify…