Direct bringing competition to small-business space
March 15, 2023 Philip PoradoDirect writer TD Insurance has launched TD Insurance for Business, which will offer commercial property, commercial auto for business vehicles and commercial general liability coverage to Canadian small businesses. Coverage will initially be available in Ontario, followed by other provinces, according…
Uptick in business bankruptcies just the tip of the iceberg: CFIB
August 19, 2022 The Canadian PressTORONTO – A small business lobby group says commercial bankruptcies are rising in Canada and even more small businesses are at risk of closure. Data from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada shows small business insolvencies have been…
Do your clients have enough (or any) coverage for ransomware attacks?
August 10, 2022 by Jason ContantBusinesses in Canada and the United States are increasingly concerned about how they will pay ransomware demands and more than half would like governments to cover damages when future attacks are linked to other nation states, according to a new…
The biggest cyber threats for your small business client
January 26, 2022 by Jason ContantYour small business clients have a significant susceptibility to spoofing and clickjacking cyberattacks, a new survey finds. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) cybersecurity company CyberCatch randomly sampled 1,850 small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Canada across 10 industry segments. Spoofing (84.3% of SMBs…
Businesses wants more government support amid latest Ontario COVID shutdown
January 6, 2022 Holly McKenzie-Sutter - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Ontario businesses were hit with another round of pandemic-related closures and capacity restrictions Wednesday, but details of financial support remained scant as the measures took effect. Restaurants, gyms, cinemas and other indoor venues were forced to close while…
Ottawa loosens eligibility requirements on pandemic relief for businesses, workers
December 24, 2021 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSCanada’s federal government offered a lifeline to businesses struggling amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding eligibility for two benefit programs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet announced Wednesday that, due to the…
Small businesses grappling with Omicron, after two years of closures and restrictions
December 23, 2021 Tara Deschamps - THE CANADIAN PRESSAs the December holidays neared, the Old Triangle alehouses across the Maritimes were bustling with Christmas parties and diners revelling in the festive season. But that energy vanished in recent days as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 raged across Canada…
Small businesses warn of layoffs, closures if pandemic aid isn’t extended
October 21, 2021 The Canadian PressOTTAWA – Business groups in Canada are warning that ending federal pandemic-relief programs too soon could send shock waves through the economy. Cutting off wage and rent subsidies as planned on Saturday will force many businesses to reduce their hours,…
As small business sentiment drops, Liberals pressed to give benefits extra life
October 6, 2021 Jordan Press - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – A group representing thousands of small businesses says uncertainty over the fate of federal pandemic supports is causing its members to lose confidence in their financial prospects, and pushing the Liberals to provide more life support for ailing…
Ontario court certifies class-action against insurers related to COVID-19
September 1, 2021 The Canadian PressTORONTO – Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice has certified a class-action lawsuit against fourteen insurance companies that denied business interruption claims related to COVID-19. The class action, launched by several small businesses including a suit store, a smoothie shop and…
Big tax win for brokerage succession plans
June 28, 2021 by David GambrillCanadian property and casualty insurance brokers are applauding the passage of Bill C-208, which they say will ease the tax burden for brokerage principals who wish to sell their business to family members. “The changes proposed in Bill C-208 would…
Pandemic enabled small- and medium-sized businesses to work remotely: survey
June 15, 2021 Salmaan Farooqui - THE CANADIAN PRESSAt Jeremy Shaki’s tech education company, his workforce of around 75 people weren’t always so keen on remote work. But as the pandemic stretches on, and Lighthouse Labs invested more into the necessary infrastructure and employee programs to make remote…