Claims

New Brunswick receives federal aid following spring flooding

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick is getting $39 million from Ottawa as it continues to recover from this spring’s historic floods. The province says the federal money will help cover response and recovery costs. In a news release, Deputy Premier Stephen Horsman said many people are still recovering from the flood. He says the money will […]

By Jason Contant | August 2, 2018

1 min read

Claims

The danger of lying about gender for cheaper auto insurance

If a young male motorist is thinking of telling his insurer he is female for the sole purpose of getting a lower rate, there is some simple advice a broker can give: Don’t do it. This is because a motorist’s insurance claim can be denied if the insurer takes position that the claimant does in […]

By Greg Meckbach | August 1, 2018

3 min read

Claims

Residents leave homes as Ontario forest fires burn

KILLARNEY, Ont. – While heavy grey smoke from a nearby forest fire hung in the air, Donna Butson packed a bag of clothes and walked in her backyard with tears running from her eyes. She is one of many residents who had to leave their homes Tuesday due to the raging fire known as Parry […]

By Jason Contant | August 1, 2018

3 min read

Claims

Car wash operator found not liable for $1,800 claim caused after malfunction

A British Columbia motorist who made an $1,800 vehicle damage insurance claim arising from an ill-fated trip to an automated car wash cannot get reimbursed by the car wash operator. This was the finding of a recent decision from the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal. It is not clear from the tribunal decision if B.C.’s public […]

By Greg Meckbach | August 1, 2018

2 min read

What Canada’s P&C industry has learned from catastrophes

Each catastrophe presents a unique learning opportunity for today’s risk and insurance professional; over time, savvy risk experts will use these broad-scale “teachable moments” to better prepare their clients and employers to be more resilient in the future. Canadian Underwriter caught up Monday with Steve Osselton, managing director for client advisory services at Marsh Canada […]

3 min read

One Ontario industry vulnerable to weather extremes

If your client is in the food production or distribution field, you might want to consider the impact of extreme weather. “Restaurants do not prioritize purchasing backup generators, or flood or business interruption insurance,” a report presented last week to Toronto City Council warns. “In addition, for restaurants that rent, it is often the building […]

2 min read

Ottawa considered speeding up new seatbelt rule after Broncos crash: documents

The father of a teen who died in a crash that killed 16 people on a junior hockey team bus is questioning why Ottawa is waiting two years to make seatbelts on new highway buses mandatory. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act show Transport Canada considered enacting the rule […]

3 min read

One easy way for retailers to manage cyber risk

Retailers can reduce cyber liability risk if managers know exactly where computer files containing sensitive information is stored. Many retailers are “expanding their digital footprints” and storing personal information – such as customers’ names and addresses – on computers, noted Rocco Galletto, leader of Deloitte’s Cyber Security Managed Services practice in Canada, in an interview […]

3 min read

What your hospitality clients need to know about their liability limits

In the restaurant and bar business, those serving alcohol are trained to recognize the symptoms of intoxication to prevent an “overservice” problem, and subsequent liability to the business. But what happens when a customer has been drinking in multiple establishments before fatally injuring someone in a motor vehicle accident? “I’ve seen that case,” said Jay Gates, […]

2 min read

Will the Maritimes be insurable if climate change left unchecked?

The financial costs of flooding in the Maritimes could increase dramatically by the end of the century under a “business-as-usual climate scenario,” even without accounting for changes people have made to the environment that could increase exposure, according to a new study. Researchers at Ontario’s University of Waterloo looked at the Halifax, N.S. area, a […]

2 min read