Brokers looking to sell commercial coverage to small businesses need to keep it simple, fast and client-specific, industry professionals told Canadian Underwriter Thursday. Sometimes when buzzwords like artificial intelligence, blockchain and chatbots dominate the conversation, the cart comes before the…
The world’s second-largest reinsurer is looking for partners in the artificial intelligence space to help the reinsurer get a better idea of how much insured damage future wildfires could cause. Swiss Re is working with the Massachusetts Institute of technology…
Editor’s Note: This version of the article includes a correction showing that operating profit was flat at £46 million (approximately Cdn$82 million in 2018, and Cdn$78 million in 2017). A previous version incorrectly showed the operating profit of 46 million…
Technology and data will change the underwriter’s job but will not eliminate it, suggests Russell Johnston, chief executive officer for North America of QBE Insurance Group Limited. “At the end of the day, people still make the decisions,” Johnston said…
Perhaps the largest-ever earthquake to hit a section of central Alberta caused no immediate reports of damage, but knocked out power for more than 4,000 customers. Could fracking be the culprit? In this case, Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is probing…
As the digital healthcare market continues to evolve, the insurance industry in Canada should consider gaps or exclusions in current policies and the need for a bespoke option. Digital healthcare will include a focus on two areas: Telemedicine – remote…
The Ontario government wants to hear from insurance companies on the controversial joint and several liability rule, which some say is unfair to deep pockets defendants. “What we are looking for is consultation with the lawyers, the insurance industry, et…
Saskatchewan police impounded 87 vehicles because the driver was distracted, the province’s auto insurer announced. It is illegal in Saskatchewan to hold, view or manipulate an electronic communication device while driving. There is an immediate roadside vehicle impoundment if the…
Enhancing building codes to include early detection systems could help generate a faster response in the case of farm fires, said Ken Worsley, who leads Cowan Insurance Group’s national agri-commercial industry practice. Early response systems include things like heat, fire…
Seatbelts with shoulder harnesses should be mandatory on all school buses, an opposition member of Ontario’s provincial parliament told Canadian Underwriter Friday. “We should have the use of three-point seat belts on school buses to prevent injury and even death,”…
Seventeen years after selling its personal lines business to the insurer now known as Intact, Zurich Canada has ambitions to re-enter the “retail” space, but it remains to be seen how it would do that or what form it would…
While theft of funds remains a relatively minor source of Canadian cyber claims for one specialist insurer, it is expected to grow as further modernization of payment systems takes place in the country. CFC Underwriting released Friday its 2018 cyber…