VANCOUVER, BC: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation expressed outrage at a study showing that British Columbia drivers are paying hundreds of dollars more for their car insurance than drivers in Alberta.

“It’s totally unfair that B.C. drivers are paying way more than our cousins in Alberta, why should we keep getting ripped off like this?” said Kris Sims, B.C. Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Because ICBC is a government-controlled monopoly it can gouge drivers every year without losing any of its trapped customers – this has to change.

“B.C. drivers need the choice to shop around for car insurance.”

A study conducted for the Insurance Bureau of Canada compared insurance costs for B.C. drivers to those in Alberta. The study shows that B.C. drivers are paying hundreds of dollars more for the same vehicle. Click HERE for the study.

The report provides examples such as:

• Bill is a 46-year-old man who runs a business in Surrey and drives his 2014 Ford F-150 for his business. Bill pays $2,058 per year for his insurance in B.C., while his identical twin in Calgary pays $1,399 for the same coverage.
  Bill in Surrey pays $659 more per year in B.C. than he would if he were in Calgary.

• Frank and Donna are a 45-year-old couple living in Langley, with a teenager learning to drive. They have a clean driving record and they use their 2012 Honda Accord to commute to work. Frank and Donna pay $2,232 per year for car insurance in B.C., while their twins would pay $1,395 in Edmonton. 
  Frank and Donna pay $837 more per year in B.C. than they would if they were in Edmonton.

• Susan is a 55-year-old woman living in Kamloops. She has one at-fault accident and drives her 2016 Toyota Camry to work. Susan pays $1,573 per year for car insurance in B.C., while her twin in Medicine Hat would pay $1,125.
  Susan pays $448 more per year in B.C. than she would if she were in Medicine Hat. 

“These are apples to apples comparisons of B.C. drivers who are trapped by the ICBC monopoly, and Alberta drivers who can shop around for their own car insurance and save money,” said Sims. “Why should grown adults in B.C. be forced to deal with this government-controlled dumpster fire while drivers in other parts of Canada have a choice and pay much less than we do?”

To read the report from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, click HERE.

To sign the petition urging B.C. Premier John Horgan to give B.C. drivers choice click HERE.

To send letters to B.C. politicians and get a free bumper sticker click HERE.

To read the full CTF report on how to extinguish the ICBC dumpster fire click HERE.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Kris Sims, BC Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Mobile Phone:  604-997-1798

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @kris_sims

The CTF is Canada's leading non-partisan citizens' advocacy group fighting for lower taxes, less waste and accountable government. Founded in 1990, the CTF has more than 180,000 supporters and seven offices across Canada. The CTF is funded by free-will, non tax-receiptable contributions.