Claims

Is sinkhole damage covered under a standard home insurance policy?

Editor’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 issue came to light recently following media reports that a family that lost its home […]

By Jason Contant | May 7, 2019

2 min read

Claims

At least 150 firefighters respond to Toronto school blaze

TORONTO – A large fire at a Toronto high school caused part of the building’s roof to collapse, forced area residents from their homes and sent large plumes of smoke over the neighbourhood, authorities said Tuesday as crews worked to put out the blaze. No injuries were reported at what was the second fire in […]

By Greg Meckbach | May 7, 2019

2 min read

Claims

‘It’s triage now’: Cottage Country brokers deal with flood fallout

Brokers 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 more widespread than what was seen in the last major flood of 2013. Catastrophe Indices […]

By Adam Malik | May 6, 2019

3 min read

Claims

Health and safety inspection teams head to flood affected zones in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON – Health and safety inspection teams are fanning out across flood-affected regions of New Brunswick, assessing homes and businesses that are still drying out amid receding floodwaters. New Brunswick’s Emergency Measures Organization says the teams will inspect electrical systems and determine if repairs are needed. Residents seeking an assessment are being asked to report […]

By Greg Meckbach | May 3, 2019

2 min read

What auto insurance brokers should keep in mind if cash settlements are banned

Brokers need to understand both the upside and downside to a “care not cash” clause in an accident benefits policy so clients can choose an option that fits their needs, says an Ontario auto insurance expert. The Ontario government is proposing a new “care not cash” default clause in the province’s standard auto accident benefits […]

3 min read

Health Canada warns mould is a serious concern in flood hit homes

Health Canada is warning of the dangers of mould in homes and cottages hit by this year’s spring flooding. Federal biologist Francis Lavoie says it’s important to dry wet walls and belongings within 48 hours, but that’s not always possible in the case of flooding. “You need to remove anything that has been too wet […]

2 min read

Why this claimant cannot sue over auto collision

A motorist should have known he was listed by his insurer as an excluded driver, an Ontario court has ruled. Johnathon Trudeau filed a lawsuit against David Cavanagh as a result of a 2013 vehicle collision in Espanola. Trudeau also applied for accident benefits with Wawanesa, which insured the vehicle Trudeau was driving. Trudeau’s accident […]

2 min read

How Quebec floods are challenging adjusters

Many homes flooded in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que. will be total losses and may not have overland flood coverage, a vice president for an independent adjusting firm suggests. Claims adjusting firm ClaimsPro is involved in about 2,000 flood claims from April in Quebec alone, Michel Lacelle, vice president of organizational services in Eastern Canada for ClaimsPro/IndemniPro, said […]

2 min read

Regulator allows out-of-province adjusters into Quebec

Quebec’s financial regulator has temporarily relaxed some of its rules to allow out-of-province adjusters into the province to help deal with a large number of claims. The Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) announced the change before the province began experiencing heavy flooding, which has resulted in more than 6,400 flooded residences as of Monday and […]

2 min read

Are sandbags effective? A look at the popular flood prevention tool

For centuries, residents of flood-prone areas have looked to sandbags to stave off rising waters. Flood management experts say that while it’s easy to understand why sandbags have become the first line of defence, they may not necessarily be the best one. Here’s a look at sandbags and their effectiveness: DO SANDBAGS WORK AS FLOOD-PREVENTION […]

3 min read