Wynne’s latest auto insurance stretch goal gives families no hope rates will come down: NDP

In question period on Tuesday, NDP Consumer Affairs critic Wayne Gates said that the latest Liberal auto insurance scheme does nothing to substantially lower auto insurance rates for families and abandons the long promised 15 per cent rate reduction.

“Since 2013, this government committed to lowering auto insurance rates by 15 per cent - which never happened,” said Gates. “The government then tried to bury a report which showed that, even though Ontario has one of the lowest levels of collisions, we pay some of the highest rates. Today, we heard about a new auto insurance scheme, and it doesn’t even target rate reduction.

“Is this another stretch goal by the Liberal government, to pretend they're lowering auto insurance rates right before an election?” asked Gates.

In 2015, the Liberal government didn't come close to its target to lower auto insurance rates by 15 per cent, with Kathleen Wynne later excusing the failure by saying it was only ever a "stretch goal." Meanwhile, Ontario families continue to pay the highest insurance rates in Canada. Gates said Ontario families cannot afford to be let down by another broken Liberal promise.

“The Wynne Liberals promised to reduce auto insurance rates by 15 per cent and didn’t,” said Gates. “The Liberals ignored our calls to end discriminatory insurance rates that hit low-income people the hardest. And they claimed they wouldn’t put insurance company profits over residents, but they did.

“We’ve seen this play out. Before an election, the Liberals make promises about auto insurance, and, right after the election, they let people down.”

“Why would people believe them this time? asked Gates.