Canada’s most frequent re-occurring natural hazard is one to which other parts of the world are now encountering with greater frequency. Flooding. As referenced previously in TheRiskFactor, flooding is particularly painful in Canada because overland flooding is not covered by Canadian homeowners’ insurance policies. Coverage can be purchased for plumbing overflow and sewer-back, and many  more...

Most of us think of mould resulting from over-exposure to water combined with poor housekeeping. But moulds are ubiquitous in nature, and already exist in your home and mine.  And they are dormant, at least until spores – residing in household and workplace dust – result.  The spores (reproductive structure adapted for dispersal) can cause  more...

It is now the single largest cause of property damage to Canadian homes. Water damage now accounts for more claims dollars spent on any other single risk to property. The following link will take you to a short article explaining the financial dimensions of the problem, according to AVIVA Canada. http://www.ilstv.com/average-water-damage-claim-rose-160-in-ten-years-aviva-canada/ AVIVA Canada also offers the  more...

Although it happened half a world away, the economic ripples of Japan’s 3-part catastrophe (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear melt-down) will be felt here in Canada. Because it is the world’s third-largest economy, the devastation in Japan is already resulting in supply-chain interruptions on everything from auto parts to electronics to aircraft assembly. In the financial sector,  more...

The work-life of an insurance underwriter: working in cramped cubicles in dimly-lit office towers in Toronto, carefully sifting through risk data, local fire-fighting ratings, and dusty manuals to find ways of charging more money to insure your home. Whimsical caricatures aside, the underwriter’s task – trying to insure homes that are unlikely to have claims  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...

Those of us living in Ontario this summer have had a tough time finding evidence of global warming.  But the weather is unusual in much of North America – the result of some form of climate change. And the changing climate is causing more damage because of something as simple as changes in rainfall. Let’s  more...