Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

’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:

#1 … those who wish to lead, should acknowledge that government must be about people.

#2 … a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from.

#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

#4 ... we need a permanent fix to the problem of keeping medical practitioners in some of the more rural areas of the province

#5 ... put an immediate end to the Community Benefits Agreement

#6 ... the next BC government must be committed to sustainable resource development

#7 ... government should make treatment for chronic conditions free to residents

#8 … new schools should be designed to incorporate community uses as identified by the areas they are to be located

#9 ... Bids submitted to build future ferries will include not just the lowest submission that meets structural requirements, but will also include the financial benefits of building in BC

#10 ... soberly audit the health ministry with a mind to make adult decisions for the long-term betterment of our health and care

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more