Issue 2005-33: August 16, 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.




Claims

Chubb Insurance of Canada Chooses MS/B Integriclaim(TM) For Property Loss Estimating.
MISSISSAUGA AND TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 11, 2005 - Marshall & Swift / Boeckh (MS/B), the leading worldwide provider of building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry, and Chubb Insurance of Canada, a subsidiary of the worldwide property and casualty company Chubb, announce the implementation of MS/B's IntegriClaim(TM) property claim estimating technology as a desktop application into Chubb's property claims management process. Chubb Insurance of Canada, located in Toronto, will use IntegriClaim to help facilitate its continued development in the Canadian market.

ISB makes Intersection photos by SOC available to P&C claims personnel.
August 10, 2005 Toronto, ON - The Insurance Search Bureau of Canada (ISB) and StreetsofCanada.com (SOC) are announcing an exciting new partnership that will provide insurance professionals with access to an online master photo directory of Canada�s intersections.

Majority of Consumers Believe Electronic Medical Records Can Improve Medical Care, Accenture Survey Finds.
NEW YORK; July 20, 2005 � A majority of U.S. consumers believe that electronic medical records can provide valuable benefits, especially during medical emergencies, and can improve overall medical care, according to the results of a survey released today by Accenture.

Consumer Information

Pethealth � Top Tips from 24PetWatch� to a Keep Spot and Fluffy Safe This Summer
Top Tips from 24PetWatch� to Keep Spot and Fluffy Safe This Summer
Toronto, ONTARIO � July 12, 2005. Summertime has arrived, and our four legged friends unknowingly enter a season chock-full of danger. Most pets will wander off at least once in their lives. With less than a quarter of pets rescued by shelters returned to their families, a pet without identification has little chance of making it home. 24PetWatch, Canada�s leading provider of pet microchip identification and pet recovery programs, presents The Summer Pet Safety Guide with top tips for keeping your pet safe during the summer months.

CIHI Data: Children Under Five at Greatest Risk for Drowning.
July 20, 2005-Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among Ontario children under five years old, according to new data released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Children under the age of five are involved in more drowning or near-drowning incidents than those in any other age group, at a rate of 5.24 per 100,000 population, more than four times the rate for those over the age of 19. The second most at-risk age group is that of children aged 5 to 9 years old, with a rate of 4.12 per 100,000 population.

Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador to Invest More Than $1 Million in Intelligent Transportation Systems.
August 4, 2005 - OTTAWA - Natural Resources Minister R. John Efford, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, along with Newfoundland and Labrador�s Transportation and Works Minister Tom Rideout, today announced the signing of a contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for intelligent transportation systems in the province. Intelligent transportation systems refer to a broad range of technologies designed to make transportation safer, more efficient, more reliable and more environmentally friendly.

Manulife introduces Group Retirement Income Plan.
Manulife Financial's Canadian Pension Operations (CPO) has launched a Group Retirement Income Plan product series. Available exclusively to former members of group pension and savings plans sponsored by Manulife customers, the new product series lets plan members draw retirement income while continuing to have access to familiar investments and services.

WSIB Releases Preliminary Average Premium Rate For 2006: Concludes External Reviews About Future.
NTO, ONTARIO--July 21, 2005 - The Board of Directors of Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has set the 2006 preliminary average premium rate, approved a funding framework and changes to the WSIB's Experience Rating Programs.

Marketing and the Market Place

eMarketer: In Search of the Elusive Canadian Online Buyer.
August 09, 2005 - "eMarketer projects that online buying in Canada will grow more than 20% a year over the next five years, but it is important to note that the growth comes from a low starting point�and is a slight downward revision from our estimates of a year ago," says Jeffrey Grau, Senior Analyst at eMarketer and author of the Canada E-Commerce report. "If it weren't for US retailers and Internet companies moving north seeking growth, Canada's e-commerce projections would be nearly frozen. "

CFIB Survey: Business confidence index drops after three consecutive quarters of gains.
June 29, 2005 - Toronto, Canada - Results of the latest quarterly survey of small- and medium-sized enterprises, by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), show a dip in business confidence in June. This is first decline following three consecutive quarterly gains.

Applied Systems Wins Industry Award for Advertising Excellence.
University Park, IL�July 6, 2005--Applied Systems� Marketing team recently earned a top honor from the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA), the international organization of insurance communications professionals.

Business of Insurance

Manulife introduces new Group Retirement Income Plan.
WATERLOO, ON, Aug. 8, 2005 - Manulife Financial's Canadian Pension Operations (CPO) launched a new Group Retirement Income Plan product series today. Available exclusively to former members of group pension and savings plans sponsored by Manulife customers, the new product series lets plan members draw retirement income while continuing to have access to familiar investments and services.

Conning Research Forecasts Strong Property-Casualty Insurance Results Through 2007.
Hartford, CT - July 19, 2005 - Property-casualty insurance industry results should be relatively strong from 2004 through 2007, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting, Inc.

eBusiness and Technology

The Wealth Management Technology Landscape 2005: Report Published by Celent.
August 5, 2005 - Boston, MA, USA - Celent expects global wealth management IT spending to reach US$2.4 billion in 2005, representing an increase of 23% compared to 2004. North America accounts for 42% of this spending.

IDC Forecasts IT and Business Services by Industry: Success Rides on Understanding Industry Specific Needs and Proper Vendor Positioning.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., August 9, 2005 - The U.S. outsourcing, project-based services, and support and training services markets are anticipated to experience moderate overall growth over the next five years, according to IDC, with growth within select industries exceeding market averages.

from Doug:

Our family has all four birthdays in a three week period starting July 21. When those have passed, when the evenings are cooler (thank goodness, wonderful weather here the blast few days) and the CNE is about to begin (this Friday), then summer is on the downward slope. Lot's left to enjoy tho' - may yours be wonderful.


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