Media Releases 2005

February 15, 2005

Insurance task force to address availability and affordability issues for commercial and not-for-profit sectors

HALIFAX - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) today announced a newly created task force focused on insurance issues affecting the commercial and not-for-profit sectors in Atlantic Canada.

The Atlantic Task Force on Insurance Availability and Affordability brings together affected stakeholders representing the four Atlantic provinces - including representatives of government, the insurance industry and insurance customers from commercial and not-for-profit organizations.

The task force's mandate is to develop recommendations intended to increase insurance availability and affordability for commercial and not-for-profit sectors in Atlantic Canada.

"Many organizations are concerned about insurance matters and want to know what can be done to overcome the problem," explains Don Forgeron, Vice-President, Atlantic, IBC and Chair of the task force. "We strongly believe that if all stakeholders work together we can find solutions to control costs and, ultimately, improve insurance availability for consumers."

The Atlantic Task Force on Insurance Availability and Affordability is the result of stakeholder meetings IBC hosted across the Atlantic region during the latter part of 2004. These meetings were the beginning of formal dialogue to address issues of insurance availability and affordability.

"Insurance costs have created a serious issue for services offered by our organizations," explains Jamie Ferguson, CEO of Sport Nova Scotia and a member of the task force. "We can't fix the problem in isolation so it's great that all parties are making an effort to come together. The task force will allow us to voice our concerns and be part of the solution."

"Many voluntary organizations are facing rising insurance costs and
cannot afford to carry a full range of insurance to protect their staff and volunteers. This appears to be negatively affecting some people's willingness to volunteer," reports Penelope Rowe, task force member and Chief Executive Officer, Community Services Council, Newfoundland and Labrador. "It is incumbent on all parties to find reasonable and workable solutions for this increasingly worrisome issue."

The task force will begin its work in the coming weeks and expects to issue a report by the summer of 2005.

"I like that this task force will not require a prolonged period of time to develop its recommendations," states Stéphane Robichaud, Vice-President Atlantic Region, Canadian Federation of Independent Business and task force member. "We have been involved in this issue for three years and are looking forward to developing concrete and practical solutions for our members."

A list of members of the Atlantic Task Force on Insurance Availability and Affordability follows.

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents the companies that provide more than 90% of the private home, car and business insurance in Canada. To view news releases and information, visit the media section of IBC's website at www.ibc.ca.

Atlantic Task Force on Insurance Availability and Affordability membership(*):

Insurance customers (commercial & not-for-profit)

• Ross Antworth - General Manager, New Brunswick Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
• Myrtle Corkum - Deputy Chief Commissioner, Girl Guides Canada - Guides du Canada
• Luc Erjavec - Vice President, Atlantic Canada, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association
• Jamie Ferguson - Chief Executive Officer, Sport Nova Scotia
• Len King - Past President, Newfoundland Real Estate Association
• Rheal Robichaud - Executive Director, Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick
• Stéphane Robichaud - Vice President Atlantic Region, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• Penelope Rowe - Chief Executive Officer, Community Services Council
  Newfoundland & Labrador
• Dawn Stegen - Executive Director, Recreation Nova Scotia

Industry

• Don Forgeron (Chair of Task Force) - Vice-President Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada
• Brian Houlihan - Commercial Underwriting Leader, Royal and SunAlliance
• Gail Munroe - Corporate Commercial Manager, Atlantic Division, ING Canada
• Jamie Reid - President, Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia

Government

• Robert Bradley - Acting Superintendent of Insurance, Prince Edward Island
• George Jordan - Auto Insurance Consumer Advocate, Nova Scotia
• Roderick MacKenzie - Superintendent of Insurance, New Brunswick
• Winston Morris - Superintendent of Insurance, Newfoundland/Labrador
• Doug Murphy - Acting Superintendent of Insurance, Nova Scotia

(*)Additional task force members may be recruited to ensure discussions reflect the entire Atlantic region and the sectors most affected by insurance availability and affordability issues.

For further information: To arrange a media interview, please contact, Alison MacDonald, Communications Advisor, IBC at (902) 429-2730 ext 226.

^Back to top