Commercial

What brokers need to tell homeowners hiring renovators

Brokers placing home insurance should be advising clients on how to vet renovation contractors, a spokesperson for a bidding website advises. Some contractors could be working on homes without having workers compensation insurance, and while they may have insurance certificates and skilled trades licenses, such documents can easily be faked, said Nicole Silver, public relations […]

By Greg Meckbach | January 9, 2018

2 min read

New legal risks of retaining contractors instead of employees

Companies subject to Ontario labour laws could face an additional risk of fines, penalties and orders to pay severance to terminated contractors if labour enforcement staff conclude that independent contractors are actually employees, a lawyer warned Wednesday. With Bill 148, Ontario’s ruling Liberals are “taking steps to make sure that workers are properly classified and […]

By Jason Contant | November 22, 2017

2 min read

How small code changes can reduce big water claims

With severe weather expected to get worse in the years ahead, introducing small changes into building codes is critical, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’s (ICLR) managing director told Canadian Underwriter on Wednesday. “We are not talking about totally revamping codes or making huge, expensive, wholesale changes,” Glenn McGillivray said. “Often times, changes can be […]

By Canadian Underwriter | November 15, 2017

2 min read

Broker urges more study on ‘broadest tax reform in decades’

A federal government proposal to change the income tax system affecting passive income generated within a company is raising some unanswered questions, a member of parliament suggested to brokers this week. One commercial brokerage president is calling for further study before changes are made. “As it stands, the broadest tax reform in decades, as tabled, […]

By Canadian Underwriter | November 15, 2017

2 min read