Thursday, March 26, 2026
ADVT 
National

Insured damage from severe weather exceeded $3.1B in 2023: insurance bureau

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Jan, 2024 12:45 PM
  • Insured damage from severe weather exceeded $3.1B in 2023: insurance bureau

Severe weather and natural disasters caused more than $3 billion in insured damages for the second year in a row in 2023. 

The Insurance Bureau of Canada's annual tally is topped by wildfires in the Okanagan and Shuswap areas of B.C., which cost $720 million. 

Other notable events included severe summer storms in Ontario, at $340 million, and a spring ice storm in April that caused power outages and left two people dead in Ontario and Quebec, costing $330 million. 

Summer hailstorms in Winnipeg and Calgary combined to cause more than $250 million in damages.

On the East Coast, a wildfire that ripped through a Halifax suburb in May and June and floods in late July both made the list. 

That places 2023 fourth on the bureau's list of most expensive weather years — a list that is still topped by the devastating wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta. in 2016.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Renewable diesel refinery is first in Canada, completed in B.C.

Renewable diesel refinery is first in Canada, completed in B.C.
Officials, including Premier David Eby, were in Prince George to celebrate the milestone for the $380-million facility run by Tidewater Renewables. A government statement says the process involves blending feedstocks, such as canola and tallow, with transportation fuels to lower their carbon intensity.

Renewable diesel refinery is first in Canada, completed in B.C.

RCMP say no critical injuries in crash of B.C. bus carrying pipeline camp workers

RCMP say no critical injuries in crash of B.C. bus carrying pipeline camp workers
Prince George RCMP say no critical injuries have been reported among the 30 people on the bus that went off a forest service road and crashed 120 kilometres north of Prince George, B.C.

RCMP say no critical injuries in crash of B.C. bus carrying pipeline camp workers

Pregnant woman at Surrey Memorial Hospital told to go home and wait, delivered baby in car

Pregnant woman at Surrey Memorial Hospital told to go home and wait, delivered baby in car
According to media reports, on Sunday, a pregnant woman gave birth to her baby in her car after being turned away from the hospital on the pretext that what she was experiencing wasn't labour pain. Doctors at the SMH gave her morphine and told her to go home and wait.

Pregnant woman at Surrey Memorial Hospital told to go home and wait, delivered baby in car

Impaired Abbotsford driver makes their child blow into the ignition interlock system

Impaired Abbotsford driver makes their child blow into the ignition interlock system
Police in Abbotsford say a driver admitted to making their child blow into the ignition interlock system meant to keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. They’ve also informed the Ministry of Children and Family Development. 

Impaired Abbotsford driver makes their child blow into the ignition interlock system

Environment Canada says 10 tornadoes confirmed in Alberta during Wednesday storm

Environment Canada says 10 tornadoes confirmed in Alberta during Wednesday storm
Environment Canada confirms what it calls a "tornado outbreak" in rural Alberta earlier this week. It says between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, nine twisters hopscotched between Calgary and Medicine Hat and another was spotted near Vermillion in eastern Alberta. 

Environment Canada says 10 tornadoes confirmed in Alberta during Wednesday storm

Surrey to stay with RCMP over municipal force

Surrey to stay with RCMP over municipal force
The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue its transition to the independent Surrey Police Service, offering $150 million over five years to help the city cover costs, but saying it would not pay the estimated $72 million in severance for officers if council decided to revert back to the RCMP.

Surrey to stay with RCMP over municipal force