TORONTO – Premier-designate Kathleen Wynne says she’s more interested in tackling fraud in the auto insurance system than an NDP call for a 15 per cent cut in premiums.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says regulation changes in 2010 cut benefits for motorists and reduced statutory accident payouts from insurers by almost $2 billion — or 50 per cent — but premiums still went up.

Horwath wants the government to mandate a cut in auto insurance rates, and Wynne says it’s one of the ideas she will discuss with the New Democrats.

However, the premier-designate says she is more focused on a task force that recommended ways to combat insurance fraud, which she notes will save the industry money.

During a conference call with ethnic media today, Wynne said she’ll work with insurance companies to make sure some of the savings from implementing the anti-fraud recommendations are passed along to consumers.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says fraud costs Ontario drivers about $1.6 billion a year, and like Wynne wants the government to implement the recommendations of the task force.

The NDP calculated a 15 per cent reduction in premiums would save the average Ontario driver about $226 a year.