What insurance companies can do to help police
May 15, 2019 by Adam MalikOttawa police laid more charges related to a busted a car theft ring that saw 50 vehicles stolen and totalled $2.5 million in value. It’s a case in which the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) played a key role in…
When cyber breaches can kill
May 15, 2019 by Greg MeckbachYour client’s property and life are getting increasingly exposed to cyber attacks because just about everything today has computing power, an information security expert warns. “It used to be what with computer security, we were worried about computers, desktops and…
BFL Canada acquires B.C. brokerage
May 15, 2019 by Jason ContantLarge commercial brokerage BFL Canada announced Tuesday the acquisition of British Columbia-based Summit Insurance Brokers Inc. Summit, based in Prince George, was founded in the late 1990s and brings expertise in industrial, commercial and farm risks to BFL Canada. Summit…
Flood threat remains in Quebec and Ontario
May 15, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESSMONTREAL – The Canadian Forces will maintain soldiers in Quebec to remove sandbags and restore critical infrastructure in communities hit by flooding, Brig.-Gen. Jennie Carignan said Monday. And while flooding has largely stabilized or begun to subside, high water levels…
Looking for clarity on insurance regulations? Try this new hub…
May 14, 2019 by Adam MalikThe Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) will be launching a new access point this fall to help insurance providers understand licencing and regulatory regimes across Canada. The launch of the Fintech Advisory Hub was met with enthusiasm from the…
The challenges of assessing seasonal home damage
May 13, 2019 by Adam MalikDespite being told flooding in Ontario’s Cottage Country back in 2013 was one-in-100-years event, area businesses and residents are cleaning up from a second and more widespread flooding incident in less than a decade. Climate is playing a key role…
CU Total Loss Series: Where are the bottlenecks?
May 13, 2019 by David GambrillTotal Loss Series, Part 2: Bottlenecks Imagine Canada’s auto insurance industry saving millions of dollars each year in total loss costs and passing that along to Canadian drivers in the form of premium decreases. And all by simply reducing total…
How Fairfax’s Allied World acquisition is working out
May 10, 2019 by Greg MeckbachOld medical malpractice claims with Allied World Assurance Company are still affecting the bottom line of Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which bought the majority of Allied World nearly two years ago. With a combined ratio of 102.3%, Zug, Switzerland-based…
How kitty litter can impact insured property losses
May 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachWhile spring rains and thawing have caused overland flooding of Biblical proportions, drain backups are also the bane of some insurers’ existence. In multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, drain backups are the number one cause of damage, said Adam Bartman,…
Is sinkhole damage covered under a standard home insurance policy?
May 7, 2019 by Jason ContantEditor’s Note: This story has been edited to include additional comments. Is damage from a sinkhole covered under a standard homeowner’s policy? “Earth movement” is typically excluded under a standard policy, but an earthquake endorsement may provide coverage. The…
Former Economical Insurance CEO joins another board
May 7, 2019 by Greg MeckbachKaren Gavan, former CEO of the first Canadian property and casualty insurer to start the demutualization process, is now on the board of directors of HSBC Canada. Gavan (pictured) was CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Economical Insurance from 2011 through 2016.…
‘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…