Ontario to combat auto insurance fraud in effort to lower premiums

TORONTO – Ontario’s Liberal government is introducing legislation that it says will help keep auto insurance rates down by combating fraud and making it easier to settle disputes.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says the bill would transform the dispute resolution system to help insured drivers settle disputed claims faster.

He also says moving the dispute system to the attorney general’s Licence Appeal Tribunal will help cut down on consumer frustration.

Sousa says the government will also take measures to combat insurance fraud, and will allow only licensed health service providers to bill insurers directly.

He says costs for the insurance industry must come down if premiums are to be lowered.

However, critics point out Ontario made regulatory changes in 2010 that greatly reduced costs for the insurance industry but those savings have not been passed along to drivers.

Sousa says the government is on track to see an average 15 per cent cut in auto insurance rates over two years.