Brokers must be involved in online sale of auto insurance: Manitoba government

The future delivery of online services through Manitoba Public Insurance must involve insurance agents, the province's minister of Crown services is demanding.

A new mandate letter to the board of Crown insurance corporation says the brokerage industry will be involved in both the development of MPI's modernized service delivery and its selling.

"Manitobans must retainaccess to professional advice from the broker network to help them understand insurance options, manage risks and make the right choices," says the letter, released publicly on Tuesday.

The orderappears to be a direct response to a reported clash between the Tory-appointedboard and theInsurance Brokers Association of Manitobaover MPI'splan to allow Manitoba drivers to buy auto insurance online.

The Winnipeg Free Press reported in Marchthat the provincewaslobbying on behalf of the insurance agents, raising accusations from an unnamed board member thatthe governmentinterferedin the operations of a board it appointed.

Insurance agents were worried an online model would exclude the services of insurance agentsand result in job losses amongthe 2,600 people working for Manitoba's brokers.

After the story ran, Crown Services Minister Colleen Mayer wouldn't rule out issuing a written directive to the board.

On Tuesday, Mayersaid it was too early to know the future role of insurance agents, but she's confident the MPI board and the brokerage association will strike acompromise.

"All indications, so far, are both parties are coming to the table to work together to fill that mandate of better service for Manitobans," Mayer said.