How this province is limiting the scope of cannabis risk
September 27, 2018 by Jason ContantOntario will soon introduce legislation defining the scope of recreational marijuana use, just weeks before the federal government is scheduled to legalize pot on Oct. 17. The governing Progressive Conservative Party is introducing a tightly-regulated regime in which municipalities will…
Expanded coverage for landlords’ risks
September 18, 2018 by Jason ContantManaging general agent APRIL Canada announced Tuesday it has launched what it is calling the “only” unpaid rents and damage insurance for landlords in Ontario and Quebec. Historically, these two risks are not addressed by current insurance offerings, as insurers…
Tories call for ‘made-in-Ontario’ climate change adaptation plan
August 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s new government is promising to address property risk with a “new climate change plan,” but one of the first things it has done is table legislation scrapping a program that charges people for carbon emissions. “We know that the…
Tories pledge to work with industry to lower Ontario auto rates
August 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s new finance minister is promising to work with industry to reduce auto insurance rates, but does not want the as-yet-unspecified plan to be a mere “photo opportunity.” Rates have increased for three consecutive quarters, despite several measures over the…
How individual insurers have responded to challenges in Ontario auto
August 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDespite a consensus in the industry that auto insurance rates are inadequate in Ontario, not all insurers are trying to diversify their business to reduce their exposure to this particular line. The Co-operators Group Ltd. “does not intend to reduce…
Ontario PCs historically ‘very receptive’ to auto rate reform: Intact CEO
August 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s newly-elected government has been silent on auto insurance reform, but the head of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurance carrier is encouraged by the Progressive Conservative Party’s historical leaning towards loosening rate regulation. The Progressive Conservative Party was returned…
How the old catastrophic impairment definition still affects Ontario auto insurers
August 8, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIt has been more than two years since Ontario changed the definition of catastrophic impairment, but Canada’s largest auto insurer is still dealing with claims that arose under the old cat definition. “Clearly, people are trying to get as much…
Vehicle accident plaintiff loses bid to appeal without paper court transcripts
July 25, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA motor vehicle accident victim wanting to appeal a personal injury lawsuit award without having to pay to get paper court transcripts has lost her bid to appeal using audio court records. Yolando Girao was injured in 2002 in an…
Dozens of forest fires continue in northern Ontario
July 13, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – The mayor of a northern Ontario community says residents have been allowed to return to homes they were forced to leave earlier this week as forest fires burned nearby. But Lorie Hunter, the mayor of Temagami, Ont., says…
Canada’s best province for flood risk management
June 20, 2018 by Greg MeckbachFive years after Albertans lost billions as a result of record floods, Ontario leads the nation when it comes to keeping properties out of high-risk areas, a catastrophe loss expert contends. “Ontario has been most aggressive at trying to make…
Should accident benefits for minor injuries be optional?
June 5, 2018 by Greg MeckbachShould greater choice in auto insurance for Ontario motorists include the ability of insureds to opt out of benefits for minor injuries? David Marshall, a special advisor to Finance Minister Charles Sousa, has questioned whether accident benefits should cover minor…
Message from the President
May 16, 2018 Monica Kuzyk, President, Canadian Independent Adjusters’ AssociationHow upcoming Ontario election impacts auto insurance