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

What’s available? Is there any benefit to us? Is ICBC passing those savings on to us? Absolutely not!


No actually Mr Eby --- ICBC is ripping us off!
According to ICBC, total claims costs for the nine-month period of April to December of last year totaled $4.28 billion ... that’s an average of just under five hundred million dollars a month ($475,000,000.00)



So why bring this up you ask?
Well it certainly appears that the government owned Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) isn’t currently providing any kind of rate relief when it comes to what they charge us.
I like many others, are rarely seeing our vehicles leave the driveway – in fact if my vehicle is currently being driven more than 50 kilometres a week I’d be surprised!
So what in fact are they offering us?
On March 24th they announced ... ICBC is now offering customers the option to defer their monthly insurance payments for up to 90 days with no penalty, to support those facing financial hardship at this time ...

Then finally yesterday ICBC announced they would be .... waiving the $30 cancellation fee and $18 re-plating fee for those people who choose to cancel their insurance during this time ...

Seriously – that’s the best they can do?

I, and tens of thousands of other British Columbians are sitting with our vehicles parked most of the time.  Crashes in intersections must be down dramatically, hit and runs reduced greatly, multiple vehicle crashes are probably nearly non-existent.

WHY is ICBC not passing those savings on to me, and everyone else?

It’s bad enough that this year I am paying over TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS to insure a 2009 Chevy HHR --- with NO collision coverage --- and that’s after a 43% claim rated scale discount!

Also figured into the price gouge, by ICBC, are the following:
1)   Annual license fee ... $61
2)   Road safety including enhanced law enforcement ... $10.73
3)   Driver and vehicle licensing, vehicle registration, and other services ... $39.09 ... and last but not least, to add insult to injury, there’s a ...
4)   Premium tax of 4.4% ... $34.76

Just to diverge for a moment, but why am I paying an Annual License fee – as well as Driver and Vehicle Licensing?

Why am I paying for Road Safety – and what the hell is that actually?

AND ... why am I paying for Enhanced Law Enforcement, which is basically to pay for police to go out and catch distracted drivers, speeders, and other to enforce other road safety issues. 

There is no other jurisdiction in Canada where insurance companies are paying for police enforcement of the law – so why is that something which ICBC, through charges we are obligated to pay, doing this?  We already pay for police services through multiple taxes the government skims off of us!

Now back to ICBC, COVID-19, and the millions in savings which ICBC must be piling up at the moment.

What’s available? Is there any benefit to us? Is ICBC passing those savings on to us?

Absolutely not --- we’re getting jack shit actually ... and there’s no more than what they previously offered, available to us.

Last September, they added a 10% discount for those who drove less that 5,000 kilometres in a year.

Ten Percent?  BIG Whoop!

Most people have an average of 20,000 kilometres put on their vehicle in a year – so for driving 75% less, they’re offer 10% off the price of insurance.

Again ... BIG WHOOP!

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) ... member companies (outside of BC where ICBC is the only choice for Basic Insurance) are offering substantial consumer relief measures. For consumers whose driving habits have changed significantly, IBC member companies are offering reductions in auto insurance premiums to reflect this reduced risk ... this could result in $600 million in savings to consumers ...

ICBC is savings millions and we as the consumers should be receiving the benefits of those savings ... and it should be a hell of a lot more than a paltry 10%.

Come on Minister David Eby ... do it now, before the call to do the right thing becomes a clamour that can’t be ignored, and which makes you and your government look like a miserly scrooge.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper to step down for Conservative Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in a by-election

Deputy Whip and MLA Reann Gasper has informed the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia of her decision to step down as MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, creating an opportunity for Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay to seek the seat in a forthcoming by-election. Gasper said the decision was made carefully and deliberately, with the future of British Columbia firmly in mind. Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper “This is a decision I have made after a great deal of careful consideration, and I believe it is the right decision for me, for our Party, and for the work ahead,” said MLA Gasper. “It has been a privilege to represent the people of Abbotsford-Mission, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside my colleagues in the Conservative Caucus and to contribute to our leadership team.” “I have confidence in Kerry-Lynne, in her leadership, and in her ability to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Sits on $61 Million With No Start Date for Burnaby Hospital

Phase 2 of Burnaby Hospital redevelopment  was green lit to go ahead in September 2023 The NDP spent $45 million on the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment, cancelled the second phase, and now has another $61 million listed for the project in the province’s Public Accounts, with no start date for construction. If the NDP cancelled the project, what is happening to the $61 million set aside for it? The Phase 2 project was expected to cost between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion and was intended to expand the hospital’s capacity. With Burnaby’s population growing and residents struggling to access healthcare, the government should be investing in healthcare capacity, not leaving millions of dollars tied up in limbo. “The NDP spent $45 million on this project before cancelling it, and now $61 million remains listed for it in the Public Accounts,” said MLA Misty Van Popta, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure. “If the government isn’t going to build the hospital expansion, it should explain whe...
Post a Comment
Read more

BC Conservatives Point to Warning Signs in BC’s Economy

While Canada posted modest job gains in July, warning lights are still flashing in British Columbia. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, leaving too many first-time jobseekers shut out of the workforce. BC also lost 3,400 public administration jobs in July, likely as temporary Census positions ended. “BC's jobs divide remains stark. Unemployment is far higher in business-driven communities like Kelowna (9.3%) and Abbotsford-Mission (8.3%) than in Victoria (5.0%). Government should be focused on creating the conditions for private-sector investment and job growth,” said Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and Shadow Minister for Economic Development. “We need an economy where young people can find work, businesses can hire, and every region has the opportunity to prosper.” This comes as BC faces five straight quarters where more businesses are closing than opening, an NDP cabinet rift over job-creating projects like Tilbury LNG, and fresh signs that even the province's to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more