The Insurance Business poll question, ‘Who will be the best voice for the insurance industry at Queen’s Park?’ produced a clear winner – and some clear losers.
Of the 128 who took part in the poll, 54 indicated that the Conservatives would best represent the insurance industry while running Ontario.
The next closest political party were the Liberals, who received 21 votes in favour.
But perhaps the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario should have put their name forward, as 43 visitors to the website placed their faith in the
IBAO doing the best job steering the course for the province.
“Ontario brokers are committed to protecting the interests of Ontario consumers. We see the tongue in cheek poll results as a compliment for our ongoing and effective advocacy efforts at Queen’s Park,” says Randy Carroll, CEO of the IBAO. “We look forward to the election results and the provincial politicians heading back to work to implement the auto fraud reforms so Ontarians can receive auto insurance rate reductions in a reasonable and responsible fashion.”
The choices offered in the poll were:
Conservatives 54;
The IBAO 43;
The Liberals 21;
The NDP 4;
Green Party 0; and
None of the Above 6.
Both the IBAO and Ralph Palumbo of the
Insurance Bureau of Canada had been petitioning hard for the passage of Bill 171, the Fighting Fraud and Reducing Automobile Insurance Rates Act, 2014, which was introduced on March 4. (continued.)
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The Bill would have implemented important sections of the Auto Insurance Anti-Fraud Task Force Report, what many saw as crucial for Ontario auto insurers to meet the 2015 15 per cent premium cut target.
However, Premier Kathleen Wynne decided to call a June election after the New Democratic Party refused to attend the presentation of the spring budget, strongly hinting that it would not support the minority governing Liberals. As such, Bill 171 has been left in limbo.
It was the New Democrats a year ago who demanded that the 15 per cent premium target be set as a precondition to that party supporting the Wynne government’s 2013 provincial budget.
