Tories name auto insurance review group

Justice Minister Marie-Claude Blais named a new automobile insurance committee on Tuesday, weeks after being criticized for breaking a campaign promise.

Premier David Alward committed during the election campaign to establish a working group to study the existing $2,500 cap on court awards and the definition for soft-tissue automobile injuries.

"We want to make sure the system treats victims of automobile injuries fairly, while at the same time ensuring that auto insurance remains accessible and affordable for all New Brunswickers," Blais said in a statement.

Michel C. Leger, a Shediac lawyer, has been named the group's chairperson.

Leger is a well-known Progressive Conservative, who worked for Bernard Lord during the 2006 election. He also helped Alward during the 2010 campaign.

Lord appointed Leger to be the chairperson for his Premier's Health Quality Council after winning the 1999 election.

Other members of the automobile insurance committee include:

• Frances McConnachie, New Brunswick Consumers for Insurance Fairness
• Bill Adams, Atlantic vice-president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada
• Macgregor Grant, Insurance Brokers Association of New Brunswick
• Nathalie Chiasson, lawyer
• Stephane Viola, lawyer
• Dr. Richard Dumais, a pain specialist from Moncton
• Kathy Warren, a physiotherapist from Fredericton

The justice minister said Ronald Godin, the province's consumer advocate for insurance, will be asked to participate with the group.

McConnachie's citizens group said in August 2010 that the insurance cap is too low and is unfairly being applied to people who have been in a coma, had broken bones or suffer chronic pain.

The Tory campaign platform said the working group would be studying the issue before the end of 2010.

The Tories first announced the working group on Nov. 4 but did not name the members, establish a budget or set its terms of reference.

The Liberals criticized the Alward government for the review's delay in December.

The former Lord government brought in the cap on automobile insurance awards in June 2003, not long after that year's provincial election campaign.

"It has been seven years since the current rules covering automobile insurance in New Brunswick were adopted," Blais said in a statement.

"The time is right to find out if the system is working and to make sure the levels of coverage and compensation contained in our current legislation are still appropriate." The provincial government has indicated public hearings will be held into the future of the insurance caps.