Issue 2006-09: February 28, 2006

Distribution

CLIEDIS CITS Wrap Up meeting: Project Update Feb 20, 2006
The meeting was held on Feb 14th at the AEGON Canada offices in Toronto with approximately 30 attendees from 22 different organisations. It was chaired by Jack Brown, VP, Marketing and Technology, PPI Financial and Jamie McGeachin, VP, Operations, HUB Financial.

The Problem with SEMCI and What Can Be Done About It: by Peter Symons, OARBIC.
Single Entry Multi Company Interface (SEMCI) is viewed, with some justification, in both Canada and the USA as somewhat of the Holy Grail within the P&C Insurance Industry. Deemed as a solution to the vastly inefficient and expensive double entry problems that have beset the industry since Broker/Agent Management Systems were first introduced in the early 1980's, the achievement of true SEMCI will prevent the same data from having to be entered twice.

Advocis Survey: Canadians Want Restrictions on Bank Distribution of Insurance.
February 15, 2006, Toronto, ON - Survey results released today by Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, suggest that Canadians are wary of removing restrictions on bank expansion into the area of marketing and selling life and health insurance from bank branches.

Eastbridge Report: Voluntary Insurance Organizations Expect Growth in 2006.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (February 7, 2006)-Insurance carriers and brokers expect to see a growth in the number of new groups that they acquire in 2006 as compared to the number for 2005. An overwhelming 91 percent expect the number to increase in 2006, with 43 percent saying the number will "increase a lot."

Claims

Automated Benefits Inc. Signs Contract with Johnson Schock Lowden Inc.
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - Jan. 27, 2006 - Automated Benefits Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AUT) wholly owned subsidiary, Automated Benefits Inc. ("Autoben"), has signed a contract with Johnson Schock Lowden Inc. of Vaughan, Ontario, to facilitate medical and dental administration and adjudication to their group insurance clients using the ABI software operated by Autoben effective January, 2006.

Garda Strenghtens Its Position As a Canadian Leader in Consulting and Investigations Services.
MONTREAL, CANADA--(Feb. 20, 2006) - Garda World Security Corporation (TSX:GW), one of North America's leading providers of security, cash handling and investigative services, is pleased to announce today two acquisitions in the consulting and investigations services sector. The firm strengthens its leading position in Canada by acquiring Chartrand Laframboise Inc. and Signum Corporate Services Inc.

Business of Insurance

Allianz Insurance Company and The Nordic Insurance Company Announce Intention to Amalgamate.
TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2006 - Allianz Insurance Company of Canada and The Nordic Insurance Company of Canada, both insurance subsidiaries of ING Canada Inc., have announced their intention to amalgamate under the name of The Nordic Insurance Company of Canada.

Ontario Government's FSCO Strengthening Consumer Protection and Supporting Economic Growth.
February 20, 2006 - TORONTO - Finance Minister Dwight Duncan introduced legislation to replace the current Mortgage Brokers Act to improve consumer protection, enhance and modernize financial regulation and encourage greater competition and choice for consumers.

Reference and Statistics

North American Life Insurance Activity Up 2% in January: MIB.
(Westwood, Mass. - February 23, 2006) North American applications for individually underwritten life insurance increased +2.0% in January, year-over-year, according to the MIB Life Indextm. This marks the Index's first year-over-year increase in twelve consecutive months. It was also the first time in four years where January's application activity was greater than the prior December's application volume.

Canadian Economic Outlook, February 2006: SwissRe.
Canadian economic growth moderated towards the end of the year, but there are signs of a bounce back this quarter. The Canadian economy remains sound, labor market conditions other than in manufacturing are strong, retail sales are encouraging and the trade surplus robust.

eBusiness and Technology

European Insurance IT Spending: 2006 - 2010: Report Published by Celent.
London, United Kingdom - February 8, 2006 - IT spending at European insurers will grow at a modest rate over the next five years, according to the Celent reports, European Life and Pensions IT Spending 2006-2010 and European General Insurer IT Spending 2006-2010. The reports detail projected IT spending on a variety of areas including spending on maintenance, new projects, hardware, software, staff, services, and telecom.

Transport Canada celebrates its 10th year on the web.
January 15, 2006 marks the 10th anniversary of Transport Canada's Internet site. Since that time, Transport Canada has been making information available to the public and stakeholders on-line. The site has proven to be an excellent way to share information and services in a timely and efficient manner.

Consumer Information

Life and health insurers commend Quebec for launching dialogue on health care.
MONTREAL, Feb. 16, 2006 - "The life and health insurance industry commends the Government of Quebec for launching a constructive and timely public dialogue on reinforcing the sustainability of Quebec's health system," said Yves Millette, Senior Vice President, Quebec Affairs, for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA).

SGI Provides Funding to Sleep Disorders Centre.
Feb. 7, 2006 - SGI is furthering its commitment to traffic safety by providing almost $188,000 in funding to the Sleep Disorders Centre at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

WSIB Launches Workplace Safety Campaign.
JANUARY 30, 2006 - TORONTO, ONTARIO - The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) today launched a multi-media workplace health and safety campaign. The WSIB is building on the message of past campaigns that all workplace injuries and illnesses are preventable, and is using advertising to keep that message foremost in the minds of target audiences.

CIHI: Most snowmobile-related injuries occur in February.
January 25, 2006 - New data released today from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show that hospitals treat the most snowmobile-related injuries in February. Snowmobile incidents remained the number-one cause of winter sports and recreation-related injuries treated in specialized trauma units in 2003-2004.

Insurance in the Community

Sun Life Financial donates $50,000 to aid in Philippine landslide relief efforts.
Toronto, ON (February 21, 2006) - Sun Life Financial Inc. today announced that it is donating $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to aid the relief and rebuilding efforts following the landslide in the Philippines.

from Doug:

It was great to have the two boys home for a few days, and on the weekend both sets of grandparents came for a brief visit. As usual some family stories emerged - what you don't learn when you least expect it.


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