Top court won’t hear appeal of controversial waiver decision
February 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA 2018 Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling on waivers, described as “great news” for liability insurers, is now final. The Supreme Court of Canada announced Thursday it will not hear an appeal of Schnarr v. Blue Mountain Resorts Limited,…
Prominent insurance defence lawyer named as judge
February 5, 2019 by David GambrillInsurance defence lawyer William S. Chalmers, managing partner at Hughes Amys LLP, has been appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Toronto. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1987, Justice Chalmers practised law at Hughes…
Fate of this province’s auto reform now in the hands of politicians
February 1, 2019 by David GambrillNewfoundland’s auto insurance regulator, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), has tabled a thorough, 186-page report on what ails the province’s auto insurance system – with no recommendations to fix it. The chair of the PUB told the hearings held on…
MSA Research hires former Guarantee VP as COO
February 1, 2019 by Greg MeckbachMarilyn Horrick, a former executive with The Guarantee Company of North America, is now executive vice president and chief operating officer of MSA Research Inc. The appointment took effect Friday. Toronto-based MSA’s reports include financial information on most of Canada’s…
Why the cyber market has become so crowded
January 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachClients shopping for cyber insurance today can choose from among far more carriers than they could a few years ago, because it’s such a profitable line of business. However, one reason cyber is more profitable than other lines of coverage…
Alberta insurance tech provider acquires Ontario specialty insurer
January 23, 2019 by David GambrillBesurance Corporation, a Calgary-based insurance and technology company, has agreed to acquire Fenchurch General Insurance Company, an Ontario-based specialty insurer that offers insurance programs across Canada. Specifically, Fenchurch provides programs in warranty, trucking, surety and accident and sickness. Its products…
Why the industry needs to focus on “accidental” disruptors
January 22, 2019 by Jason ContantThe insurance industry is used to looking for “intentional” disruptors, but it really needs to focus on “accidental” disruptors, says a P&C insurance consultant. “We all can see the real disruptors out there, the ones that are finding the ways…
How Intact is promoting Big Data and actuarial training
January 21, 2019 by Jason ContantCanada’s largest insurer has teamed up with a Quebec university to establish two new chairs in artificial intelligence (AI) and actuarial science. Intact Financial Corporation and Université Laval announced Friday: The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)/Intact Financial Corporation…
Do brokers receive enough tech training?
January 17, 2019 by Jason ContantAre brokers in Canada properly trained to use new technology? “It seems there is an under-investment in the human resources component of new technology,” said Jeff McCann, CEO of Digital MGA Marketplace Ltd., a Vancouver-based company that helps brokers with…
“Mobile-first” insurtech may be coming to Canada
January 16, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA San Francisco-based firm calling itself a “mobile-first” property and casualty insurance brokerage might start placing home and auto coverage in Canada. Canadian Underwriter asked Karn Saroya, CEO of Cover Financial Inc., whether his insurtech plans to expand into Canada.…
Industry in the dark on auto reform
January 15, 2019 by Greg MeckbachNearly two years after David Marshall released his report on Ontario auto insurance reform, there is still no indication on where the government plans to go with it. “We haven’t had a concrete yes or no that they are going…
How waivers of liability could be harder to enforce
January 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe Supreme Court of Canada could make a landmark decision on whether clients facing personal injury lawsuits can enforce waivers in court. In Schnarr v. Blue Mountain Resorts Limited, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled in early 2018 that for…