’20 for 2020’. ICBC ... a co-operative will work in the best interests of drivers, rather than serving the government of the day
And today, with number
eleven in our series of “20 for 2020” we are over half way on policies
and ideas which I, along with many others, believe should be implemented by who
ever becomes our next provincial government – although if you’re listening Premier
Horgan, it’s never too early to start.
Todays suggestion comes
from the BC Conservative Party, and it is part of their ‘Made in BC’ five-point
plan; that is ... ICBC’s monopoly on vehicle insure must end.
According to the Conservatives, over years of
mismanaging ICBC, the Liberals raided the crown corporation repeatedly in order
to tell British Colombians that they had balanced the province’s budget, with
the result that BC drivers pay the highest insurance premiums in Canada.
Meantime, the NDP couldn’t bring themselves
to allow expert risk assessors to take the steps needed to determine realistic
viable insurance. The result is that many drivers, with clean driving records,
are still paying hundreds of dollars more, each year, to insure their vehicles – and young
people are expected to pay thousands for their insurance, leaving many unable
to drive due to the prohibitive costs.
British Columbians are getting the short end
of the stick when it comes to insurance – both under the previous governments
watch, and now that of the NDP.
The BC conservatives, as government, would turn
ICBC into a co-operative, ensuring that BC drivers -- who pay premiums -- will
be the ones who own the organization. A co-operative will work in the best
interest of drivers, rather than serving the government of the day.
The BC Conservatives will also open the
industry to private competition, to help drive rates lower.
In a media release during Scott Anderson’s
time as interim leader, he stated:
“We agree with the Canadian Taxpayers
Federation that ICBC should be turned into a co-operative owned by BC
drivers. Competition also must be opened
up to private companies for basic insurance in order to reduce insurance rates
for everyone. It is completely unacceptable that BC drivers now pay the highest
insurance premiums in Canada!”
Change must come to ICBC, and it seems only
logical to have it opened up to competition ... and also to turn it into a
co-op!
And that brings to an end #11, of “20 for
2020”.
Just a reminder that if
you have missed any of the previous ideas and suggestions, from “20 for
2020”, you can catch up at the following links:
#3 … there should be a full review of all
license costs and fees, which the provincial government has
imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used
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