Alberta allowing cap on auto insurance rates set by NDP to expire

The province will not renewthe five-per-cent cap on increases to auto insurance implemented by the previous NDP government when it expires on Saturday.

"Allowing this limitation to expire is necessary to ensure a sustainable industry that can best serve the needs of Albertans," Charlotte Taillon, who is acting as press secretary for Alberta Finance,said in an emailedresponse Friday to a question from CBC News.

"Our government will allow the Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) to fulfil its mandate in setting auto insurance rates.

"We believe this independent board is best positioned to evaluate the health of the insurance market and we respect their expertise and experience in the field. To be clear, companies still must go through the rate board to justify increases."

• Fate of NDP-imposed cap on auto insurance still unknown

Under the cap, which was first implemented in 2017 via a ministerial order, each insurance company could not exceed an average of a five-per-cent increase in rates across its entire vehicle insurancebusiness.

Celyeste Power, vice-president Western Canada for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said the cap didn't limit increases toauto insurance as it reduced choicein the market.

"I think it has some unintended consequences so I think it's good to put it back to the rate regulator to do the jobs that they are intended to do," she said.

NDP leader and former premier Rachel Notley said Friday her government implemented the cap to protect Alberta drivers from rising insurance costs after the AIRB approved too many requests for premium increases.

"We saw very high jumps in rates being approved," Notley said. "When we saw that happening, that's when we stepped in and said no. Thisis not the time to be doing that."

Notley said she finds it ironic that Premier Jason Kenney and the UCP is making it more expensive for Albertans to drive after spending the pre-election period cultivating opposition to her government's carbon tax.

"This is a clear decision to help outhis corporate insiders donors at the expense of regular working Albertans across the province," she said.

Power rejected Notley's suggestion that the AIRB mostly rubber-stamped increases requested by industry. She said panellistsasked a lot of questions and had plenty of expertise.

"I certainly don't think we're going to see anything like a free-for-all," she said. "They have avery important job and an independent job. Unfortunately because of the rate cap that was certainly taken away from them."

Power said drivers worried about rate increases after the cap lifts should shop around.