Auto Insurance – Northerners Need New Deal – Sarah Campbell

QUEEN’S PARK – Kenora-Rainy River MPP, Sarah Campbell spoke out against the high cost of auto insurance the Ontario Legislature on Thursday. “People are stretched to the max and they can’t afford essentials. Many people are struggling just to find jobs and to stay afloat. Certainly, we see that in Kenora–Rainy River. Auto insurance rates are another cost that people are concerned about because the premiums keep escalating and yet insurance is mandatory if people need to drive.”

Campbell says, “”Northerners don’t have the option of public transit as those in southern Ontario do”.

“With auto insurance being a mandatory service that drivers cannot simply opt out of purchasing”, Campbell stated. “I believe that, consequently, we have an obligation to provide this essential service in a manner that is as lean as possible with as little overhead and superfluous charges as possible. The purpose of auto insurance should be to provide coverage if the worst happens, not line the pockets or pad the wallets of folks in the insurance industry”.

Noting responses to a riding survey sent out in 2013, the MPP said 90% of constituents indicated that lower auto insurance premiums are either a ‘high’ or an ‘extremely high’ priority for them.

“I don’t think there’s any question that we need to make some significant reforms to auto insurance across the province”, commented Campbell.

The legislators debated Bill 15; an Act that opposers argued would remove the court option as an avenue of appeal on the statutory accident benefit (no fault) side, among other hits to the consumer.

Campbell concluded, “The bottom line is that there are other ways to bring down auto insurance premiums by 15% across this province, and there are other places to squeeze. But paying for the reductions out of the pockets of accident victims is disgusting and it’s wrong.”