Online basement flood course coming soon
January 30, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAn online version of the Home Flood Risk Assessment Training will be available Canada-wide this March, Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, said in a recent interview. The course is geared towards insurance brokers, home inspectors,…
Signs of progress on national flood program for Canada
January 29, 2019 by Jason ContantCanada is making good progress on a national flood program, pending a final decision by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers responsible for emergency management. “What they are looking at is one national insurance solution to improve outcomes for high-risk…
Private flood insurance cited in new emergency management plan
January 28, 2019 by Jason ContantFederal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments could “engage the private sector to develop an affordable private flood insurance model for the entire population, including clear incentives for mitigation of flood risks,” says a newly released emergency management strategy. Ministers have…
How many Ontario motorists got placed in the residual market
January 28, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe number of Ontario auto policies in the residual market has increased by nearly a third in little more than a year, figures released to Canadian Underwriter show. Since the fall of 2017, there has been “some uptick” in the…
Flood risk guidance for commercial brokers coming soon
January 25, 2019 by Greg MeckbachA standard on flood resiliency for commercial real estate could be coming out this year. The Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation is working on a document intended to help commercial insurance brokers and real estate companies reduce flood risk for…
How you can scale your expertise through social media
January 25, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokers may not want to invest heavily in social media, but a lot of opportunity exists at little to no cost. “It’s always a question of how do you scale your expertise; by using social media, you can just reach…
How to make money during an unprofitable market
January 24, 2019 by David GambrillAs market conditions start to become more challenging in personal home, auto and commercial property lines, how can carriers and brokerages maintain a healthy, profitable book of business? “To me, there are three possible strategies,” says Greg McCutcheon, president of…
Sale of Echelon Insurance to CAA gets shareholder approval
January 23, 2019 by Greg MeckbachNon-standard auto insurer Echelon Insurance is a step closer to being acquired by The CAA Club Group of Companies. Shareholders of Echelon Financial Holdings Inc. voted Wednesday in favour of the $175 million deal, Echelon said in a release. In…
Would you buy insurance from your own website?
January 22, 2019 by Jason ContantBefore jumping right into buying a piece of technology, brokers should first think about mapping out the customer journey, suggests the CEO of a company that helps brokers with automation. “Diving right into the software isn’t always the best because…
How Intact is promoting Big Data and actuarial training
January 21, 2019 by Jason ContantCanada’s largest insurer has teamed up with a Quebec university to establish two new chairs in artificial intelligence (AI) and actuarial science. Intact Financial Corporation and Université Laval announced Friday: The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)/Intact Financial Corporation…
How mixing marijuana and alcohol may lead to more settlements
January 18, 2019 by Jason ContantWith recreational marijuana legal in Canada since Oct. 17, 2018, social hosts and bars will need to pay attention to liability arising from people who are intoxicated by both marijuana and alcohol. Traditional liquor liability cases can be complicated enough…
How weak insurance sector growth puts technology in the spotlight
January 17, 2019 by Jason ContantExpected weak insurance sector growth in the near-term is fueling the need for efficiency gains through technology and innovation, Ernst & Young Canada said recently. The EY Insurance Outlook 2019 reveals that insurance sector growth is expected to remain weak…