It’s a fact: fraud costs in Ontario vehicle insurance dramatically exceed that of any other part of the country. And Ontario drivers are paying heavily for that dubious distinction. It is calculated that of Ontario’s $9 billion in annual auto premiums, $1.3 billion is paid out on suspected fraudulent claims –  and not for glass  more...

Some observers are scornfully characterizing the process as a shell game: Ontario motorists are being told that they are being given more choice, but after September 1, 2010 many will pay more premium for potentially serious reductions in coverage. The government’s automobile insurance regulator is reporting that 2010 Q2 automobile average rates decreased by 1.03%  more...

So far, 2010 has seen an exceptionally large number of global natural catastrophes taking lives and damaging vital infrastructure.  And for most of us, this news is so common, we’ve largely forgotten the dimensions of each tragedy. According to industry definition, the first half of 2010 saw 440 catastrophic events around the globe.  Losses of  more...

“Summer is a time when a lot of people go on vacation, and criminals know that, too,” says Const. Isabelle Cotton of the Toronto Police Service. “They are looking for those houses where there are no lights and the drapes are down. Make sure your place looks like someone is living inside.” In most cases,  more...

As trusted advisors, we often have clients describing situations, concluding with the question: “Am I legally liable for this?” The most definitive answer can only come from a court after considering the circumstances and evidence. But the test of legal liability – also called a tort – is fairly simple: did one party owe another  more...

Early estimates peg the damage at $15 million.  Astonishingly, only minor injuries were reported; 50 families were forced from their homes. But the recent tornado damage to Midland has Ontarians wondering if changing weather patterns will result in more wind damage in this province, this summer. Ontario statistically sees about 15 confirmed tornados touch down  more...

Wednesday’s magnitude -5.0 earthquake was memorable for affecting such a large piece of geography  – tremors were felt in Ontario, Quebec, New York, Illinois, Vermont, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio – without resulting in fatalities or substantial damage. The quake occurred at approx. 1:31 p.m., lasted 15 to 20 seconds, and was dominating social  more...

Submitted by: Graham Rob more...

Hurricane Bill has lost his identity, petering out somewhere in the North Atlantic; but he led the headlines last weekend as he threatened the maritime provinces. For those of us who were around in the final decade of the last millennium (remember way back to the 90’s??), such events evoke memories of Hurricane Andrew, the  more...

Recent studies indicate that consumer’s attitude towards insurance fraud is “softening” – that is, more people find it morally acceptable to commit insurance fraud, particularly during a period of economic downturn. In Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates that between 10% and 15% of all claims paid contain an element of fraud. Premeditated  more...