Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has issued a notice saying that it has sent out 200,000 pandemic rebate cheques, with hundreds of thousands more to follow.

In an announcement, the insurer said that it had sent the cheques to Canada Post this week. MPI also said that it will send a total of 680,000 cheques in the coming weeks, for a total rebate amount of $312 million. The average private passenger policyholder will receive around $328.

MPI anticipates that all the cheques will be mailed by mid-February.

“The pandemic has negatively impacted many Manitobans personal finances, but it has also reduced the collision claims to MPI allowing for a rebate,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General & Minister Responsible for MPI Kelvin Goertzen. “Returning these funds to its customers benefits Manitobans and is in keeping with the mandate of Manitoba Public Insurance.”

Goertzen added that the last two years have been “challenging” for Manitoba, and that the current rebate is both “positive and welcomed.”

“Together, we’ll work our way through this challenging time in our province.”

MPI said that this is its third pandemic in less than two years; the insurer noted that it will have provided rebates of about $500 million.

“The financial strength of MPI has allowed us to once again provide a COVID-related rebate cheque,” commented MPI president and CEO Eric Herbelin. “Once again the public auto insurance model demonstrates its strength and financial benefits to our customers.”