Canadian Underwriter


News InsuranceRisk

How to grow in an era of new, intangible business risks

December 6, 2018 by David Gambrill

As business risks become more global, interconnected and less tangible, brokers and insurers should expand their dialogue with clients about loss mitigation or loss prevention, the chief executive of CNA Canada says. “An insurance policy today isn’t really enough,” CNA

News InsuranceMarkets / CoveragesTechnology

Why brokers need to talk about ransomware

November 28, 2018 by Jason Contant

Ransomware attacks are increasing, and as a result, there will likely be a shift in brokers and clients alike starting to recognize the value of the business interruption component of a cyber insurance policy, a specialist insurer said Monday. “Cybercrime

News InsuranceTechnology

Why brokers shouldn’t focus on breach notification law when selling cyber

November 26, 2018 by Jason Contant

The nation-wide mandatory data breach law that came into effect Nov. 1 is “a good way and a reminder to start the conversation with their clients,” but brokers should ultimately focus selling efforts on the crime and business interruption aspects

News InsuranceRisk

Is your client properly insured for computer crime?

November 22, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Brokers placing commercial insurance for the risk of theft should pay close attention to exclusions. Exclusions on some policies covering crime losses for financial institutions may be leaving a gap in cover computer crime, a new paper from Marsh Inc.

News CatastrophesInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

The flood risk that might be unaccounted for

November 19, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

Insurers might be unintentionally covering flood and fire risks arising from computer problems, a cyber expert with a risk modelling firm suggests. “Anything that is related to a computer system could trigger non-cyber losses,” Matt Honea, cyber director for Cyence

News ConstructionRestoration

Condo deductible dispute arises from 60-gallon flood

November 19, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

When a store on the main floor of a condo building suffered $25,000 in losses from a flood, the strata corporation was on the hook for the $5,000 deductible. The strata corporation tried to recover the $5,000 deductible from a

News InsuranceLegislation / Regulation

Accounting body proposes extension for IFRS 17

November 15, 2018 by David Gambrill

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has voted to propose a one-year deferral of the effective date for IFRS 17 to 2022. Insurance companies globally have lobbied for the extension as they prepare their transition to the International Financial Reporting

News BrokersInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Large commercial brokerage reports ‘stealth’ firming in casualty lines

November 13, 2018 by Jason Contant

A recent report from commercial brokerage Willis Towers Watson has confirmed what Canada’s largest insurer is saying: the commercial insurance market is showing signs of firming as casualty losses mount. “The seemingly ‘stealth’ firming within the casualty market comes as

News AdjustersClaimsInsurance

How business interruption claims could play out in the legal marijuana space

November 8, 2018 by Jason Contant

Supply 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

News Earnings / RatingsInsurance

Why Intact will not chase growth by lowering rates

November 8, 2018 by Jason Contant

As both personal and commercial markets continue to show signs of hardening, Intact Financial Corporation will not pursue growth by lowering rates as 2019 approaches. “We’re not chasing growth by lowering rates as we move into 2019,” Darren Godfrey, Intact’s

News AdjustersClaimsInsuranceMarkets / Coverages

Why marijuana plant value is so important for adjusters

November 7, 2018 by Jason Contant

Claims 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

News InsuranceLegal

Top court could hear disputed claim arising from $550-million ponzi scheme loss

November 5, 2018 by Greg Meckbach

A major bank’s disputed $300-million professional liability insurance claim – arising from a Ponzi scheme in Florida – could reach the Supreme Court of Canada. Toronto-Dominion Bank bought an insurance policy from a syndicate of insurers, including Lloyd’s Underwriters in