OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada hiked its key interest rate by half of a percentage point Wednesday and said rates will need to rise further to clamp down on decades-high inflation. Since March, the central bank has raised its key interest rate six consecutive times, bringing it from 0.25 per cent to 3.75 per […]
By Jason Contant | October 26, 2022
3 min read
OTTAWA – Canada’s latest reading on inflation came in hotter than expected as the cost of groceries continued to climb at the fastest pace in decades, setting the stage for another sizeable interest rate hike next week. In its latest consumer price index report, Statistics Canada said the country’s annual inflation rate in September dropped […]
By Jason Contant | October 19, 2022
3 min read
OTTAWA – Most consumers and businesses think Canada will enter a recession, according to new surveys from the Bank of Canada, but businesses expect upward pressure on prices and wages to ease while consumers are still pessimistic about inflation in the short run. The third-quarter business outlook and consumer expectations surveys, released Monday, showed consumers […]
By Jason Contant | October 18, 2022
4 min read
TORONTO – A new KPMG survey has found Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses are banking on strong growth in the next three years, even as a possible economic downturn remains top of mind in the near term. The survey of 503 small and medium-sized businesses said 83 per cent are feeling optimistic about their growth […]
By Jason Contant | October 17, 2022
2 min read
Brett-Anne Logan started her career as an underwriting assistant in 2012 and today manages a team of underwriters at Intact. What she enjoys most about her role is the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and be solutions-oriented, says Brett-Anne, who holds CIP and CRM designations. “The industry is always changing to adapt to the world […]
By Jason Contant | October 4, 2022
2 min read
Nouara Lanasri joined Liberty Mutual five years ago in its commercial division in Montreal, where she has been delivering a fresh approach to finding win-win solutions for Quebec brokers. Her career began 15 years prior, at The Sovereign Insurance Company, member of Cooperators, special risk division. “Unlike most people in our industry, I studied specifically […]
By Phil | October 3, 2022
2 min read
Padmaja Sharma provides comprehensive risk solutions to mid-size and large Canadian organizations to support their growth, innovation and impact in Canada while helping to mitigate their risk. She began her career in India, then worked in Kuwait, before joining the Canadian insurance market in 2006, underwriting various lines of business. With 31 years’ experience, an […]
By Phil | October 3, 2022
2 min read
After his introduction to the industry during a brief period at a brokerage, Mike Storrey was intrigued by the company side of the business. A graduate of the Insurance Program at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., Mike applied for the position of commercial property underwriter with Economical (now part of Definity Financial Corporation), where he’s […]
By Phil | October 3, 2022
2 min read
Mabel Lau joined Intact as an underwriter 14 years ago and loves that her role entails communicating with people, dealing with brokers and offering her best service and solutions to meet customers’ needs. Having been a broker for 10 years prior to joining Intact has enabled her to understand the pressure and difficulties brokers face […]
By Phil | October 3, 2022
2 min read
France Bourgeois joined Wawanesa in 2012 after working at a brokerage for 21 years. Fluently bilingual, a seasoned underwriter and a self-professed workaholic, she has a keen sense of the pressures brokers face and works hard to make life easier for brokers and customers. France loves the rewarding work of being an underwriter, she says, […]
By Phil | October 3, 2022
2 min read