Insurance experts are training their eyes on the province of Alberta, which has proposed a motorcycle helmet exemption rule for turban-wearing Sikhs.
The province’s transportation minister, Brian Mason, announced the move late last month, adding that only select riders are expected to be affected by the exemption rule.
Alberta is the third province to introduce such an exemption; BC and Manitoba have similar clauses. Unlike the other two provinces, however, Alberta lacks a public insurance provider.
A spokesperson for Manitoba Public Insurance told CBC News that the exemption announcement has not led to any increase in premiums.
While it is too early to tell, insurance providers are uncertain whether the new rule would translate to higher insurance premiums for all Albertans.
Insurance Bureau of Canada director of consumer and industry relations Rob de Pruis said that insurers will have to assess the risk after the exemption has been put into effect.
“It’s a bit too early to tell if this is going to have an impact but certainly some insurance companies that deal with motorcycle premiums will be watching that trend going forward,” he told CBC News.
