Issue 2002-44:   November 5, 2002

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.



Careers, Skills and Community

Allianz Canada Announces 2002 Caregiver of the Year Award Recipients.

Allianz Canada is announces the recipients for the fifth annual Allianz Canada Caregiver of the Year awards, a program designed to bring much-deserved recognition to remarkable and selfless Canadians providing non-professional care to a family member or loved one.

Claims

Accident Support Services Ltd. Begins 6-Month Pilot with North Bay Police Service.

Accident Support Services Ltd., Facilitators of Collision Reporting to the Insurance Industry, is pleased to announce that on November 4, 2002 we will begin a 6-month pilot project with the North Bay Police Service. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/ASSLNB200211.php

Marketing

Ontario Legislation will keep Auto Insurance Affordable: IBC.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) maintains that the government's auto insurance reform legislation will control costs and ensure the long-term affordability of car insurance for Ontario drivers. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/IBCONAuto200211.php

Technology and e-Business

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Grand Opening of IBM Services Centre for Insurance and complimentary Breakfast Seminar for Insurance executives "Managing Your Application Portfolio" featuring IBM Strategist George Kivel and VP Katie Bambrick.

Toronto Bloor and Yonge, Nov 7, 8:00 am
In Waterloo, Albert and Columbia, Open House at 4:00 pm

For speaker and other details, and registration information see http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/IBMSem200210.php

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Genisystems.ca Services announces new Board of Directors.

According to Van Campbell, “The new Board of Genisystems.ca Services brings a wide diversity of business acumen and experience necessary to ensure a balance of sound corporate governance with innovative leadership in BPO services for the financial services industry.” More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/GeniSysBoard200210.php

Canada Life completes acquisition of CNA Life Insurance Company of Canada.

Canada Life Financial Corporation announced it has completed the acquisition of CNA Life Insurance Company of Canada, a leading provider of preferred term life insurance products in Canada. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/CanadaCNA200211.php

Sun Life Financial (USA) Selects VeniceBridge for Content Integration.

Venetica, the leading provider of content integration software, today announced that the U.S. operations of Sun Life Financial has selected VeniceBridge (TM) for content integration. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/SunLifeUSAVB200210.php

Distribution

Advocis: The new name for Canada's Professional Association of Insurance Advisors and Financial Planners.

CAIFA/CAFP, the association created when the two groups representing Canada's professional insurance advisors and financial planners voted to join forces in September, announced today that it will officially become known as "Advocis." More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/Advocis200210.php

CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update

Week ending November 1: Pembridge Ontario Auto rates are now in production on the Portal. Testing in many areas continues.

Products

Manulife Investments offers full range of wealth products under one umbrella: Segregated funds, mutual funds, annuities, guaranteed investments.

Manulife Financial, among Canada's leading financial services companies, is launching a new name for the organization distributing its wealth management products offered in Canada - Manulife Investments - to bring a wide range of innovative products and wealth management services all under one umbrella. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/ManuLifeIMX200210.php

Breaking New Ground: By Barbara Aarsteinsen, editor ci - Canadian Insurance Magazine.

The way Dave Luckwell sees it, at some point in their driving lives, glass ends up being a problem for most motorists. Windshields get dinged, windows shatter, cracks spread - a claim is virtually inescapable somewhere along the line. And everybody knows what claims lead to - bigger and bigger premiums and increasingly higher deductibles.

Statistics and Reference

Life Insurance Activity Increases 7.2% in September; Q3 Results up only 1.8%: MIB.

September applications for life insurance in North America increased 7.2% as compared to last year; U.S. and Canadian applications activity was up 6.4% and 14.1% respectively on a year-over-year basis. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/refstat/canada/MIBSep200210.php

IBC applauds auto insurance legislation in Ontario.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is applauding the introduction of legislation by Ontario Finance Minister Janet Ecker, designed to make important changes to the auto insurance system in the province. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/refstat/canada/IBCONAuto200210.php

Life and Health Insurance Industry commends Senate Social Affairs Committee Report on Canadian Health.

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association commends the Senate Social Affairs Committee on their sixth report on Canada's health system. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/refstat/canada/CLHIASenate200210.php

USA Commercial Insurance Market Index Released: CIAB.

Top commercial insurance brokers, noting insurers have been buffeted by terrorist attacks, stock market woes and increasing environmental hazard claims, have cast their eyes ahead to the coming year and voiced concern that if economic conditions do not improve, the industry's financial viability could be in jeopardy. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/refstat/other/CIABcomm200210.php

from Doug:

The fall weather in Toronto continues colder than normal for this time of year, and yet many leaves are still green - go figure. Hallowe'en was cool and a small touch of misty rain for a while, but still ran out of goodies after about 250 kids.

Our Web site has growing traffic. We use "hits" as an indicator of traffic. Growth has been steady and the last two months both exceeded 1.1 million, double a year ago. This newsletter too continues to attract subscribers, now at about 1875, up from 1200 a year earlier.