Insurance rates soar as Kenney sides with corporations over families

Albertans’ car insurance rates skyrocketed by as much as 30 per cent in the last months of 2019, after Premier Jason Kenney removed the five per cent rate cap implemented by the former NDP government, according to a new report from the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board.

“These rate increases mean hundreds of dollars in new out-of-pocket expenses for Alberta families,” said Jon Carson, NDP Official Opposition Critic for Service Alberta. “This is a heavy blow for families who are already paying more provincial income tax, more property tax, more school fees and more tuition thanks to Jason Kenney.” 

The report notes that over 92% of car insurance companies filed for a rate change after the cap was lifted, with most changes implemented before the end of 2019. Of the companies that received approved rate changes from the board, the increases range from 4.9 per cent to 29.8 per cent.

The NDP Opposition has confirmed through the Alberta Lobbyist Registry that before the cap was lifted, UCP Campaign Director and former Jason Kenney Chief of Staff Nick Koolsbergen registered to lobby the Premier and Minister of Finance to remove the cap on auto insurance rate increases.

“One of Jason Kenney’s closest loyalists was paid by the insurance industry to help make this happen. No one in this UCP government is speaking up on behalf of Alberta families,” Carson said. “Albertans shouldn’t have to wait for yet another panel report. Jason Kenney should restore the rate cap immediately.”