Pressure builds to end auto insurance monopoly
May 28, 2019 by Adam MalikCalls to end a provincial stranglehold on auto insurance are growing as business groups, municipalities and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) have taken up the cause. ICBC, on the other hand, is saying the high claims costs the public…
Does an earthquake endorsement cover sinkhole damage?
May 28, 2019 by Jason ContantIf a home collapses into a sinkhole, is there coverage under a standard homeowner’s policy or earthquake endorsement? Not under many homeowner’s policies, but possibly under the earthquake endorsement, depending on the policy language and if the quake caused the…
This brokerage is the latest to get into employee benefits
May 24, 2019 by Jason ContantA family-owned brokerage in New Brunswick has become the latest brokerage to get into the employee benefits space. Personal and commercial lines brokerage Vienneau Insurance announced earlier this week that it has expanded its commercial insurance offering by acquiring the…
Insurtech launches exclusive line of insurance
May 22, 2019 by Jason ContantAn insurtech that positions itself as the first Canadian company to specialize exclusively in tenant insurance has launched after months of research and development. Montreal-based Allset launched last week, using a “matching” algorithm to compare the tenant’s needs to over…
Allstate Canada debuts telematics app
May 16, 2019 by Jason ContantAllstate Insurance Company of Canada has joined the ranks of insurers providing telematics apps. Allstate Canada said Monday it has debuted a “personalized app for the modern driver” as National Road Safety Week (May 14-20) kicks off in Canada. Several other…
Why brokers must have a CRM in the digital age
May 9, 2019 by David GambrillCustomers in the digital age expect to hear back from brokers immediately, so if brokers don’t start investing in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems soon, well — good luck, says Dave Vass, vice president of innovation at Trufla Technology. Vass…
Brokers urged to unite with insurers to end Alberta cap
May 7, 2019 by David GambrillWith a new government in Alberta, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is calling for a united front with the broker channel to come up with a new auto reform package and put an end to the province’s 5% cap…
An explainer on the Ontario government’s move to review highway speed limits
May 6, 2019 Adam Burns - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Ontario’s government plans to launch a review of speed limits on provincial highways, with the transportation minister musing that some of those roads can safely handle traffic at 120 kilometres per hour. Here’s a look at the context…
‘It’s triage now’: Cottage Country brokers deal with flood fallout
May 6, 2019 by Adam MalikBrokers in Ontario’s Muskoka region are calling the recent flooding event the worst disaster they’ve ever seen. Both Stephen Darling, president at A.W. Shiers Insurance Brokers, and Adam Caswell, owner of Hutcheson Reynolds & Caswell, said damage is greater and…
Should insurers offer incentive for remote water shut-off?
May 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIf your client owns a multi-storey commercial or residential building and installs a system that lets them shut water off immediately if necessary, how easy is it to get a break on insurance? “To the best of our knowledge there…
Are sandbags effective? A look at the popular flood prevention tool
April 30, 2019 Michelle McQuigge - THE CANADIAN PRESSFor centuries, residents of flood-prone areas have looked to sandbags to stave off rising waters. Flood management experts say that while it’s easy to understand why sandbags have become the first line of defence, they may not necessarily be the…
How tech will change the way you price risk
April 25, 2019 by Jason ContantInsurance risk categories in the future will become so small they will become very difficult to price properly, a speaker predicted earlier this month at the CIP Society Symposium in Toronto. The number of distinct risk transfer categories appears to…