BC Conservatives Plan to Repeal No-Fault Auto Insurance
Lorne Doerkson and the BC Conservatives propose replacing the province's no-fault insurance with a hybrid system that restores the right to sue for serious injuries.
The British Columbia Conservatives plan to repeal the province's no-fault auto insurance system if they win the October 24 election. The proposal emerged from a leaked September 29 letter written by interim leader Lorne Doerkson to insurance executives and legal associations, suggesting a hybrid system that would restore the right of accident victims to sue for catastrophic, life-altering injuries.
NDP Leader David Eby condemned the proposal, describing the letter as a secret deal with trial lawyers designed to divert money from drivers to legal professionals. Eby argued that returning to a system where lawyers sue each other would increase insurance costs for residents. The NDP government implemented the no-fault Enhanced Care model in May 2021 to curb financial losses at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).
ICBC reports that the current no-fault model saved 1.5 billion dollars by removing legal costs, which contributed to more affordable rates. While Doerkson has stated he is making no promises, the leaked letter indicates that legislation to implement the hybrid model would be passed within one year of a Conservative victory. Doerkson maintains that the current system fails to provide proper compensation for those with the most severe injuries.
