Accusations of collusion between the Ontario Liberals and the insurance industry to keep auto premiums from dropping haven’t made many friends for NDP leader Andrea Horwath. In fact, one broker was quick to point out just how much rates have already been brought down.
“I am an insurance broker and all insurance companies that I deal with have taken decreases as demanded by the government,” says Joann Lombardo, of All-Risks Insurance. “Even the companies for bad drivers are taking decreases.”
Horwath had accused the minority Liberal government of siding with the insurance companies during a campaign stop in east-end Toronto earlier in the week, saying insurance companies have cut payouts by billions of dollars over the past several years but motorists have seen little benefit by way of lower premiums.
“The Liberals are more interested in keeping the insurance companies happy than they are in bringing down rates for drivers,” Horwath told reporters and supporters at the campaign stop. “People are not seeing a significant reduction in their auto insurance rates. Some people are seeing their rates go up.”
Not true, Lombardo told
Insurance Business.
“What the NDP leader is saying I believe is NOT true,” she wrote, in response to the article ‘
Horwath demands auto cuts now.’ “The result of these mandated rate reductions for non-standard insurance companies like Pafco will be to provide some of the largest dollar discounts to some of the worst drivers in Ontario. It seems the NDP leader is just saying this to gain people support falsely.”
Horwath has vowed that an NDP government, if elected on June 12, would be serious about seeing rates come down by an “achievable” 15 per cent.
Who will be the best voice for the insurance industry at Queen’s Park? Take our poll question and tell us.
