EN :

The main purpose of Mr. Bousquet's article is to review the life insurance sector in the light of the new Bill 75 passed by Quebec Government on June 20, 1984 which removes some of the barriers between financial institutions. This article also deals with the position of ACCAP about the new legislation and the control of intermediaries based on better organized and refined classifications.

EN :

The profound modifications to the insurance world induced by the adoption of Bill 75, in June 1984, are not impromptu changes. Rather, they are attributable to an evolution and a modernization of Quebec's financial institutions. This evolutionary process, which began several years ago, is likely to continue over the coming months. It is this perspective of the reform that the author wishes to emphasize by underlining the recent amendments to the Law of Insurance.

EN :

Some insureds do not seem to realize that they can indeed prevent, in their homes or businesses, losses which could prove costly in terms of delays and indemnities. At the annual Rendez-Vous de Septembre which is attended in Monaco by some 2,000 insurers, reinsurers and brokers from around the world, the theme this year was Loss Prevention. The organizers of the Rendez-Vous called upon three speakers to stress the importance of active prevention, as it is called. Following is the text of the speech given by Mr. J.N. Havers, Risk Manager for Dunlop of England. Though Mr. Havers only outlined the problem, he nevertheless brought out certain aspects which may be useful to the reader. In particular, he deals with the central issue of this recurring concern which insurers and, fortunately, insureds share, at least in the case of large buildings where sizeable amounts of capital are at stake. As pointed out by Mr. Havers, to obtain fruitful results, the collaboration of both parties, the insurer and the insured, is indispensable, be it with respect to fire, theft, automobile and public liability insurance. As we are well aware, public liability claims involve increasingly large amounts each year. Mr. Havers pointed out certain measures an insured might take to avoid bodily injury or property damage which could exceed acceptable limits for insurers. We will never forget the terrible consequences of thalidomid-causing drugs and the countless claims due to asbestosis. Though Mr. Havers does not offer a panacea of specific guidelines, he does remind us of the seriousness of the risks involved and the importance of active collaboration between insurer and insured.

EN :

Mr. Robert Viau has prepared an article on a subject which has rarely been dealt with in the past. It is of particular interest to property owners threatened by spring flooding, caused by the swell of water coming from the distant regions where rivers find their source. There are already some insurance policies, described as "all risks", which cover flooding subject to a very precise wording. In Eastern Canada, such coverage is not widely available, and then only subject to strict conditions. Mr. Viau studies the main elements for a program of flood insurance to protect the insured. Flooding is not, after all, an uninsurance risk. It can be covered, but only subject to stringent conditions and where there is a general will to reduce the risk.

EN :

This article emphasizes the necessity of closely monitoring environmental changes, in order to allow an organization's adaptation to prevailing external conditions. It is crucial for the very survival of a firm that such an analysis be performed because only then can managers take advantage of opportunities and/or avoid threats initiated by those modifications.