VANCOUVER – Wildfire crews in British Columbia are bracing for an incoming weather system expected to bring strong winds and dry lightning by Thursday, but conditions are already flaring in at least two areas of the province. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation order for the area southwest of Keremeos affected by […]
By Jason Contant | August 16, 2023
2 min read
Some Canadian auto insurers may be experiencing fewer losses than their U.S. counterparts, a new report from ratings agency Fitch suggested. A mid-year review of U.S. personal auto segment results, based on filings for nine public company insurers that report quarterly, showed aggregate written premiums rose 10% from the prior year. Despite that, the segment’s […]
By Phil | August 16, 2023
3 min read
Aviva Canada’s 2023 half-year results in personal lines are a mixed bag, with strong results on the personal property side, but the insurer is taking initiative to shore up its personal auto results. Overall, the company reported half-year growth of 8% in personal lines and 17% in commercial lines, contributing to a 2023 half-year combined […]
By David Gambrill | August 16, 2023
3 min read
An applicant who failed to demonstrate her injuries weren’t minor cannot receive benefits beyond the minor injury guideline (MIG), an adjudicator determined in an Aug. 14 Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) decision (Reid v. Aviva General Insurance, 2023 ONLAT 20-015102/AABS – A). The MIG limits rehabilitation benefits to $3,500 and defines a minor injury as “one or more of […]
By Phil | August 15, 2023
3 min read
VANCOUVER – The ten hottest communities in Canada were all located in British Columbia on Monday and forecasters expect the sizzling temperatures will continue for at least a few more days across the province’s Interior. The Fraser Canyon communities of Lytton and Lillooet both broke the 40 C mark on Monday, with Lytton reaching 41.4 […]
By Jason Contant | August 15, 2023
3 min read
The severity of fire losses in the agricultural sector is increasing as Canadian farms get bigger in size and value, but technologies are available to help reduce the frequency of that severity, a farm insurance expert told Canadian Underwriter. In Canada, the number of farms is generally dropping, but they’re getting larger in size and […]
By Jason Contant | August 15, 2023
3 min read
Humber College in Toronto is building a talent pipeline into the Canadian property restoration industry. “We’re looking at building a program that will help get more talented, skilled professionals into the restoration property management space, and then have graduates work in or towards the project management role in that industry,” says John McNeil, program coordinator […]
By David Gambrill | August 14, 2023
4 min read
FORT SMITH, N.W.T. – Residents of a second town near the Alberta-Northwest Territories boundary were ordered to evacuate to safety Sunday evening due to encroaching wildfires, with a new fire meaning the only route out for one of the communities was by air. An evacuation order was issued for residents in Hay River, NWT, earlier […]
By Jason Contant | August 14, 2023
3 min read
Toronto firefighters were battling to control a major blaze at an industrial site where chemicals are stored in the city’s west-end, as area residents were ordered to stay indoors with their windows shut amid concerns about hazardous smoke. Firefighters are “making progress” in containing the blaze but it is “not yet under control,” a public […]
By Jason Contant | August 11, 2023
2 min read
Hub International Limited, a Chicago-based brokerage with offices in 10 Canadian provinces and territories, has reported a privacy breach of data related to “a limited number of Canadians.” Hub posted a “notice of a data privacy event” online on Friday, in which the company described the breach as a mainly U.S.-based event. A “limited” amount […]
By David Gambrill | August 11, 2023
3 min read