Spring flooding not sinking cottage markets in Ontario, Quebec: report
June 7, 2019 Ross Marowits - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Spring flooding has failed to sink Ontario and Quebec’s cottage real estate markets, according to Royal LePage’s annual recreational property report. Parts of Quebec cottage country were inaccessible for weeks because of road closures and some Ontario properties…
Is your client covered from business interruption arising from terrorism?
June 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhat if a terrorist attack interrupts your client’s business, but causes no actual injuries or damage to that client? Some insurers today are covering non-damage costs and loss of attraction. This could come into play if there is a terrorist…
Welcome to the new era of online flood maps
June 6, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe organization responsible for flood risk mitigation in and near Kitchener, Ont. is contemplating enabling online access to maps that would let some clients see whether they are in a high-risk flood zone. For the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA),…
Large commercial brokerage expands presence in benefits space
June 6, 2019 by Jason ContantYet another commercial brokerage has expanded its presence in the benefits space in Canada. Toronto-headquartered Navacord Corp. announced Tuesday the acquisition of Toronto-based Future Benefits Management Inc. (FBMI), effective June 3. Founded in 1995 and exclusively focused on group benefits,…
Another small-town Saskatchewan brokerage gets bought by large U.S. firm
June 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachHub International Ltd. has bought its second Saskatchewan property and casualty insurance brokerage in less than a month. Chicago-based Hub said Tuesday it has acquired Kamsack-based Cottenie and Gardner Inc. Kamsack is a town of about 1,800, situated near the…
How warning signs factored in this ski resort’s lawsuit defence
June 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA warning sign and the plaintiff’s work experience were among the reasons a personal injury lawsuit against Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd. has been dismissed. Jason Apps was catastrophically injured while snowboarding in March, 2016 at Grouse Mountain. The ticket…
When ‘residence employee’ is key in home insurance wording
June 3, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA coverage dispute, arising from severe electric shock injuries to a baby in a rented house, shows disagreement over the exact meaning of “residence employee” in a home insurance policy. Doris Wong and her brother Johnny Wong were sued in…
Terrorism is changing. How coverage is following suit
June 3, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAs the terrorism threat shifts from large-scale attacks to softer targets, coverage options from insurance carriers are evolving as well. Some policies cover incidents when an attacker uses a gun, knife or acid for example, Tarique Nageer, Marsh LLC’s terrorism…
Regulator greenlights Echelon Insurance acquisition
May 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA $166-million deal aimed at getting CAA Insurance some new non-standard auto customers is a done deal. CAA Club Group’s acquisition of Echelon Insurance got final regulatory approval, Echelon Financial Holdings Inc. announced Thursday. The deal officially closed on May…
Brokers concerned about blanket approach to binding authority restrictions
May 31, 2019 by Jason ContantWith wildfires raging in northern Alberta and Ontario, brokers are reporting some funky outcomes associated with insurers’ binding authority restrictions. Under the restrictions, brokers cannot bind coverage in areas under civil authority, forest fire alerts, flood alerts and certain earthquake…
BrokerLink makes third acquisition in May
May 31, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokerLink has made its third acquisition in May with the purchase of Alberta independent insurance brokerage Thomson Schindle Green Insurance & Financial Services Ltd. (TSG). With branches in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Brooks, Bassano and Edmonton, TSG has been providing insurance…
Guess who’s in the flood prevention business now
May 30, 2019 by David GambrillWe’ve seen forensic engineering firms apply remediation methods to commercial and residential properties that were affected by flood damage. But now, as flooding has become more severe, they are in the vanguard of building comprehensive and tailored flood prevention and…