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Alberta

Auto Insurance affordability: Province says long term solutions may include public insurance offering

Published

6 months ago

6 minute read

Good drivers to benefit from auto insurance changes

New reforms will address the pressing issue of automobile insurance rates in the province as the government explores longer-term solutions.

Alberta’s government is exploring every possible avenue to provide relief to Albertans. Albertans with good driving records would experience price protection, ensuring their insurance rates do not increase higher than inflation. The proposed reforms would start Jan. 1, 2024.

“We know that Albertans have been struggling with their auto insurance rates and that’s why we’ve been working hard to find solutions. I’m pleased that we can work to bring forward these new measures to help. With inflation and the affordability crisis making life more expensive for Albertans, we will continue working to ensure that the measures we take are not only affordable but also sustainable in the long run.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

Alberta’s government will be taking further action to amend regulations, ensuring that insurers must offer payment plan options so Albertans would not have to pay the full amount for their coverage upfront. These changes would ensure the auto insurance industry can continue to cover claims costs and protect Alberta drivers while providing more relief to Albertans.

Additionally, changes would grant Alberta’s Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) the authority to direct auto insurers to return premiums to Albertans in years when insurance industry profits are significantly higher. AIRB could also request a rate filing from an insurer at any time to review and possibly lower auto insurance rates if needed.

“We understand the struggles many Albertans are facing, and we are working to ensure Albertans can afford the coverage they need. Achieving affordable auto insurance is a major commitment for our government and this is only the first step in delivering on that promise. We value the sustainability of the insurance industry and call for increased collaboration from insurers as we continue the work to address these issues.”

Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

“Affordability continues to be a major concern for Albertans when the cost on every day essentials rises and makes it tough to make ends meet. That’s why we continue to build on our existing affordability measures to help stabilize costs. This auto insurance reform will help do this in the short term.”

Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities

Alberta’s government is closely examining more long-term solutions to make Alberta’s auto insurance industry affordable and sustainable.

The current rate pause will remain in effect to ease the burden on Alberta drivers until the end of 2023. Proposed reforms for 2024 would not impose a dynamic price ceiling on the rate increases insurers can request but would help control how they are distributed among customers, particularly those with good driving records. Any rate increases in 2024 will be carefully monitored to ensure they are reasonable and justifiable. Albertans should continue to shop around to find the best insurance coverage for them.

“As the consumer representative on the Automobile Insurance Rate Board, I ensure that Alberta drivers are considered in all board decisions, including changes to insurer rating programs. I believe protecting good drivers from unexpected rate increases is a win for Alberta consumers. During a time of affordability challenges, this action will provide price stability and predictability for Alberta families.”

Stephane Lemieux, consumer representative, Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board

The government has commissioned an in-depth analysis by an external consultant concerning longer-term reforms. A draft report is expected by the end of 2023, with the final report slated for the first quarter of 2024. The results of this analysis will inform the government’s long-term reforms.

Quick facts

  • The description of a driver with a good record is adapted from the AIRBs guidance for the grid rating program. This includes anyone without the following:
  • one or more at-fault accidents in the last six years
  • any Criminal Code traffic convictions in the last four years
  • any major traffic convictions in the last three years
  • more than one minor traffic conviction in the last three years
  • In Alberta’s competitive marketplace, Albertans can sometimes get better rates by shopping around and exploring their options.
    • Albertans should continue to work with their insurance companies or brokers to get the best rates.
    • Alberta drivers can get discounts of up to 20 per cent for bundling their home and property insurance, in addition to discounts for good driving behavior.

Related information

At 17:00 of the video here, A reporter’s question about a potential public insurance offering in Alberta is confirmed.

Related Topics:

This is a news release from the Government of Alberta.

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Alberta official reveals ‘almost all’ wildfires in province this year have been started by humans

Published on April 28, 2024

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From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen said his department estimates that most of the province’s wildfires this year are man-made and not caused by ‘climate change.’

Alberta officials have announced that almost all fires in 2024 are believed to have been caused by humans despite ongoing claims that “climate change” is to blame.

On April 24, Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen revealed that his department estimates that most of the province’s wildfires this year are man-made and not caused by “climate change” as claimed by mainstream media and politicians.

“We expect that almost all of the wildfires we’ve experienced so far this year are human caused, given the point we’re at in the season and the types of weather we’re seeing,” Loewen stated.

 Already, Alberta has put out 172 wildfires this year, and 63 are actively burning. However, Loewen did not seem overly alarmed, instead warning Albertans to watch their local fire bans and restrictions to reduce the high number of man-made wildfires.  

“I urge you to assess your property for wildfire danger and take any preventive action you can to address these risks,” he said.

“This includes breaking up fuel sources that could ignite a structure, removing trees in close proximity to your home, and properly maintaining your gutters and roofs to rid the materials that could easily ignite such as leaves and dry needles,” Loewen added.

Loewen’s announcement comes just weeks after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith promised that arsonists who ignite wildfires in Alberta will be held accountable for their crimes.

“As we approach the wildfire season, it is important to understand that 67% of wildfires in Alberta are started by people,” she explained.

“If you start a wildfire, you can be charged, fined, and held liable for all costs associated with fighting the wildfire,” Smith added.

“All I know is in my province we have 650 fires and 500 of them were human caused,” she said, “so we have to make sure that when people know that when it’s dry out there and we get into forest fire season that they’re being a lot more careful because anytime you end up with an ignition that happens it can have devastating consequences.”

The Alberta government has also created an ad campaign highlighting the fact that most fires are caused by humans and not “climate change,” as many left-leaning politicians claim.

As reported by LifeSiteNews last year, Smith ordered arson investigators to look into why some of the wildfires that raged across the vast expanse of the province had “no known cause” shortly after they spread.

Indeed, despite claims that wildfires have drastically increased due to “climate change,” 2023 research revealed that wildfires have decreased globally while media coverage has spiked 400 percent.

Furthermore, many of the fires last spring and summer were discovered to be caused by arsonists and not “climate change.”

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have arrested arsonists who have been charged with lighting fires across the country, including in the Yukon, British Columbia, and Alberta.

In Quebec, satellite footage also showed the mysterious simultaneous eruption of several blazes across the province, sparking concerns that the fires were a coordinated effort by arsonists.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and mainstream media continue to claim that the fires are unprecedentedly dangerous and caused by “climate change” in an attempt to pass further regulations on natural resources.

The reduction and eventual elimination of the use of so-called “fossil fuels” and a transition to unreliable “green” energy has also been pushed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) – the globalist group behind the socialist “Great Reset” agenda – an organization with which Trudeau and some in his cabinet are involved.

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Alberta

Alberta rejects unconstitutional cap on plastic production

Published on April 28, 2024

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Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz issued the following statement:

“Every modern convenience and necessity is either made from or contains plastic, from surgical gloves to your iPhone. Despite this, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Steven Guilbeault has announced that he intends to cap the production of plastics in Canada.

“This unilateral announcement is a slap in the face to Alberta and our province’s petrochemical industry, and the thousands of Albertans who work in it.

“Plastics production is a growing part of Alberta’s economy, and we are positioned to lead the world for decades to come in the production of carbon neutral plastics.

“Minister Guilbeault’s proposal would throw all of that into jeopardy and risk billions of dollars in investments. This includes projects like Dow Chemical’s net-zero petrochemical plant in Fort Saskatchewan, a $9-billion dollar project that will create thousands of jobs.

“His proposal will also fail to reduce plastic production. If the federal government limits plastic production in Canada, other counties like China will just produce more. The only outcome that this federal government will achieve will be fewer jobs in Canada.

“Last year, the Federal Court ruled that Minister Guilbeault’s decision to classify plastics as ‘toxic’ was both ‘unconstitutional and unreasonable’.

“Minister Guilbeault’s decision to cap production is even more egregious and is equally unconstitutional. Under no circumstances will Alberta permit any limit on our ability to produce and export plastic products.

“Instead of wasting everyone’s time, the federal government would be better served by taking a page out of Alberta’s plan, which diverts plastics from landfills and turns used plastics into new products. This is the promise of Alberta’s plan to create a Plastics Circular Economy, a modern miracle in which, through chemistry, we can have all of life’s conveniences and necessities while protecting our environment and reducing plastic waste.

“If the federal government refuses to abide by the constitution, we will take them to court again to defend our jurisdiction and the thousands of Albertans who work in the petrochemical sector.”

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