[troutman]

Premium trouble for Tories
An unwelcome election bombshell for Premier Ed: Auto insurance will jump $200 per vehicle
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnis...838227-sun.php

Premier Ed's Tories have another mess on their plate, this one a doozy of a disaster. Yet another screwup from the party who gets away with every goof because so many here think the Conservatives can simply do no wrong.

A few years ago, the auto insurance business goes from making profits to making stratospheric profits, record profits in the billions, while consumers face big premium hikes. Drivers across the country are not happy and demand action, even in usually complacent Alberta.

The Tories, who mouth off a lot about representing the people, do the usual -- the bare minimum -- and conduct a behind-closed-doors phony-baloney review of auto insurance, with Rob Renner at the helm. Renner is the well-respected Medicine Hat florist who is always a sure bet to take up space, do the square root of squat and still get re-elected. Sharing top billing is a lawyer who is Ralph's best buddy and the rest of the group is a bunch of insurance types. There is no representation for regular drivers. No surprise there.

"It also confirms prejudices that soft-tissue injuries are generally faked or exaggerated. The impact of the discrimination cannot be viewed as trivial when the impugned legislation reinforces prejudicial stereotypes." [Justice Neil Wittman]