Issue 2005-37: September 13, 2005

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.




Distribution

HealthQuotes.ca and Ontario Blue Cross present a "LEARN and EARN" seminar on Blue Vision.
Toronto ON 2 Sept 2005 - HealthQuotes.ca is pleased to announce that on October 19, 2005 we and Ontario Blue Cross will be giving another seminar on their new small group and individual health insurance product, 'Blue Vision'.

eBusiness and Technology

Process Innovation and Management in the Acceleration Age - Newlink Group newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 2.
Are you struggling to redesign processes that have plagued your organization for many years?
Are you looking for a way to increase throughput, improve service quality and reduce costs?
Are you interested in understanding the impact of change before you inflict it on your people?

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

Manulife Financial ranks first for Canadians' pension plan statements: DALBAR survey.
WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 6, 2005 - Manulife Financial is "clearly the leader" providing Canadians with the best statements in the country to help them understand their defined contribution pension plans, according to a survey by DALBAR Inc.

KMWorld Magazine Names KANA Response a "Trend-Setting Product of 2005".
MENLO PARK, Calif. -- August 22, 2005 - KANA Software, Inc., a leading provider of Service Resolution Management (SRM) solutions, today announced that KMWorld magazine has named KANA Response a "Trend-Setting Product of 2005." KANA Response was recognized because it effectively leverages knowledge and intelligence, enabling both mid-market companies and large enterprises to successfully resolve high volumes of e-mail inquiries in the contact center.

Claims

Belron Canada Buys Canadian Glass Operations from TCG International.
Montreal and Vancouver, September 1, 2005 -- Belron Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Belron S.A., the vehicle glass repair and replacement company, announced today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with TCG International Inc.'s Autostock International Division for the acquisition of its Canadian glass operations, headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia. The transaction is scheduled to be completed in November, 2005 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Consumer Information

Government Takes Action to Protect the Health of Ontarians.
First Air Standards Update In 25 Years Will Reduce Pollution Limits; Improve Air Quality.
August 29, 2005 - TORONTO - The Ontario government is protecting the health of Ontarians and improving air quality with tough air pollution limits for industry, Environment Minister Laurel Broten announced today.

Insurers estimate August 19 Ontario storm claims will exceed $400 million: IBC.
TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2005 - Canada's car, home and business insurers announced today that they expect to pay out more than $400 million to help Southern Ontario recover from the August 19 storm. That will make it the highest insured loss in Ontario history. More recent disasters include the 2004 Peterborough flood which cost $95 million.

Marketing and the Market Place

Statistics Canada: First quarter 2005 - Characteristics of international travellers.
August 29, 2005 - Lured by the charm of Europe as well as the Caribbean sun, Canadians travelled in record numbers to overseas nations between January and March this year. Canadian residents made over 2 million overnight trips to overseas countries during the first three months of 2005, a 7.9% increase from the same quarter last year and a first quarter record high. In doing so, they spent an estimated $2.8 billion, a 7.4% increase and the highest level for the first three months of any year.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Finds U.S. Employers Express Strong Concerns Over Cost Volatility of Defined Benefit Pension Plans.
NEW YORK, 24 AUG 2005 - Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of large employers with a defined benefit pension plan report that their number-one concern with maintaining it is expense and funding volatility. At a time when the debate over pension reform is focused on changes that will reduce employers' ability to smooth cost changes�thereby increasing volatility-they are feeling pressures for sustaining employee pension plans.

Policy and Product Management

The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies Launches A Research Program to Gather Driving Habit Data That Could Revolutionize How Policies are Priced.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio - August 29, 2005 - For as long as anyone can remember, car insurance policies have been priced in the same way, using information about you, your driving history and your vehicle's make and model. And, why not? After all, this information helps auto insurance companies better understand your risk of being involved in an accident, it's able to be gathered and it's generally able to be verified.

Product Announcements

Sun Life Financial helps Canadians protect savings from long term care costs.
Toronto, Ontario - August 30, 2005 - Sun Life Financial announced today the introduction of Sun Long Term Care Insurance, aimed at protecting the assets of Canadians who require care due to accident or deteriorating health.

from Doug:

Wearing my heritage hat, I watched the sun come up over Plymouth Mass. harbour this morning. Everywhere you turn, a bit more history pops up. One's family history, in this case my wife's, not mine, brings the history humdrum of dates and places to life.


Subscribe here or view past issues.