[Stingray2004]

Sigh. BC NDP gov't in 1990's began practice of "dividend payments" from crown corps. into gov't coffers. Hell, even new Finance Minister Carole James, when recently asked, was non-committal about ending that practice. This matter is not what is driving "cost pressures" at ICBC.

But the GreeNDP's "solution" of "freezing" ICBC rates for one year is certainly not a solution.

Fact. Ernst & Young just came out with a 203-page report on ICBC.

Fact. New vehicles, with exterior sensors, cameras, etc. are becoming very expensive to repair after an accident. A cost pressure.

Fact. 15% increase in crashes year over year (2016 over 2015). A cost pressure.

Fact. Rising bodily injury claims both in terms of number and costs. A cost pressure.

Fact. Number of people injured per crash has risen 32% over six years. A cost pressure.

Now the "solution". Increased premiums? Cap on injury claim amounts? Re-introduction of photo radar? "No-fault" insurance? Other? It's for gov't/crown corp. to make decisions. Either way gonna be politically unpopular.

BTW, of the top four provinces with the most expensive premiums, 3 are public auto insurers (BC, SK, and MB). BC ranks 2nd in Canada on that score.

And ICBC has been a political football for decades because no government of any political stripe wants to raise rates.