Claims

Arbitrator in priority case not allowed to consider quality of insurer’s investigation after 90-day notice period is over: Ontario court

If an Ontario auto insurer disputes its priority to pay no-fault accident benefits after the statutory 90-day notification period is over, an arbitrator oversteps his or her bounds by considering the quality and/or timing of the insurer’s investigation after the 90-day notice period is over, the Ontario Superior Court has ruled in Dominion v. Certas.Lawyers […]

By Canadian Underwriter | July 23, 2009

3 min read

Claims

Alberta auto cap heads to Supreme Court of Canada

Alberta’s auto cap legislation is going to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in June that a Cdn$4,000 cap on insurance claims for minor auto injuries does not infringe the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The plaintiffs in Alberta Court of Appeal case, Peari Morrow and Brea Pederson, have instructed […]

By Canadian Underwriter | July 22, 2009

1 min read

Claims

International agribusiness merger would bring Canadian grain volume insurance program to Australia

Five-year-old risk management measures adopted by Canadian agribusiness Viterra Inc. (TSX:VT) may soon benefit Australian farmers if a proposed merger between Viterra and ABB Grain (ASX:ABB) is finalized as planned.Subject to completion of the proposed merger between Viterra and Australian agribusiness ABB Grain, ABB Grain will introduce grain volume insurance and the removal of a […]

By Canadian Underwriter | July 3, 2009

1 min read

Claims

New lines to help insurers reduce climate change risk

The Geneva Association has come up with proposed new insurance lines in four areas that would help insurers reduce risks associated with climate change, according to a research report, The insurance industry and climate change—Contribution to the global debate. The report, which was drafted by senior insurance executives and international climate change experts, notes that […]

By Canadian Underwriter | July 3, 2009

2 min read

Manitoba beefs up its forest-fighting fleet

Manitoba will upgrade its forest-fighting fleet with a Cdn$1.4-million investment in advanced avionics.The fleet consists of seven water bombers and will be enhanced with vision systems for pilots to help them battle fires when visibility is low, said Stan Struthers, Manitoba’s conservation minister. “This is key. It will increase our efficiency and make sure our […]

1 min read

OIAA – Out-of-Town Meeting

The Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association (OIAA) took its Out-of-Town Meeting to Kingston, Ontario on May 28. More than 600 people attended the trade show, which showcased more than 90 booths. Delegates managed to mix business with pleasure, updating their knowledge of case law before attending dinners and being entertainmented by the likes of a hypnotist […]

June 30, 2009

1 min read

No connection between one storm and global warming

Hurricane Katrina was the big poster storm for the global warming debate, but the link between the hurricane and global warming may be weaker than commonly thought, said Peter Bowyer, program manager at the Canadian Hurricane Centre. There is no connection between this one event and global warming, he told delegates at the Institute for […]

2 min read

Funding approved for world’s first tornado simulator wind tunnel

The University of Western Ontario, in affiliation with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), has received funding to build the first wind tunnel that will simulate a tornado. The Canadian Foundation for Innovation has confirmed Cdn$9.5 million to build the WindEEE (Wind Engineering, Energy and Environment) Dome.The Dome will be the world’s first six-sided […]

1 min read

Current economics do not favour sidecars, says A.M. Best

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. may have just launched a US$60-million sidecar, but don’t take that as a sign that sidecars are coming back into vogue, A.M. BestWeek reports.In the June 15, 2009 issue of BestWeek U.S./Canada, Robert Derose, a vice president at A.M. Best, said the market is hardening, but not as severely as it did […]

1 min read