How flexible are the industry’s working arrangements?
October 25, 2018 by Jason ContantCanadian employees in the insurance industry are about 13% more likely to work remotely than office workers in the United States. One in five U.S. office workers work remotely now, the New York Post reported last week. By contrast, more…
This province is bringing in new rules on car repairs and purchases
October 25, 2018 The Canadian PressCALGARY – Starting next week, there will be new rules in Alberta for selling autos or getting them fixed. Service Alberta Minister Brian Malkinson says the changes go into effect on Wednesday and will increase transparency and better protect consumers.…
How rotating postal strikes are affecting these major insurers
October 23, 2018 by Jason ContantAfter much hand-wringing about the impact of a postal strike on the insurance industry, rotating strikes by Canada Post workers have seemed to have had little impact on major insurers. Aviva Canada told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday the immediate impact of…
Why this brokerage doesn’t focus on performance-based compensation
October 22, 2018 by Jason ContantCreating competition in the workplace is not a good environment for growing teamwork and is one of the reasons an independent insurance brokerage in Nova Scotia doesn’t focus on performance-based compensation. “Our notion on compensation is that we are trying…
When keeping customer’s car keys is not “custody” of a car
October 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachNorthbridge has to pay out on a hotel’s liability insurance policy resulting from theft of a guest’s car, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a decision released Friday. Lombard, now known as Northbridge, provided both property and liability insurance…
Driver ticketed for smoking pot in car one hour after legalization
October 18, 2018 The Canadian PressWinnipeg police issued a ticket on the first day of cannabis legalization. Police posted a picture of a ticket for consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle on Twitter. The ticket carries a $672 fine. Police say the ticket was issued…
How brokers should prepare for Canada Post strike
October 17, 2018 by Greg MeckbachBrokers need to prepare scripts in case their staff get a flood of phone calls from clients asking how they plan to work without mail service, the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations advises. “Mail service may be interrupted indefinitely,”…
Why feds don’t call bitcoin a currency
October 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOne of the biggest risks posed by blockchain-based currencies is financing of terrorism and it is reasonable to ask whether there should be tighter regulation of this technology, federal finance minister Bill Morneau told a Senate committee. Bitcoin is one…
How a Canada Post interruption could play out
October 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe federal government will probably consider legislating Canada Post employees back to work if they go on strike or are locked out, a labour lawyer told Canadian Underwriter Monday. “I think it’s likely that the Liberals will consider” back-to-work legislation,…
How to carve out more time to advise your small business clients
October 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachSmall business clients want to spend less time filling out insurance application forms and more time getting advice from their brokers, an insurance technology expert says. “Unlike personal insurance, where there is more propensity to go direct, small business owners…
A new, faster way to show your clients their options
October 14, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers in Canada have a technology platform available that allows them to customize different insurance coverages, or offer next-day service, through a self-serve app. The app provides a base quote for a customer. The broker can then use sliders to…
How Canada Post disruption could help the insurance industry
October 11, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe threat of a work stoppage at Canada Post may lead to a positive outcome in a back-handed way, by potentially raising awareness among regulators and consumers about the value of electronic documents, an Insurance Bureau of Canada official suggests.…