Department reviewing PUB Facility Association ruling

Government Services and Lands Minister Walter Noel said today that his officials are currently reviewing a March 30, 2001, Public Utilities Board ruling regarding rates charged by the Facility Association.

The Facility Association is a non-profit organization of insurers established under the Insurance Companies Act to provide automobile insurance to high risk drivers. 

The province intervened at the PUB hearing in an effort to have the profits of the association used to reduce rates for consumers.

Minister Noel said: "In addition to the ruling, my officials are also reviewing the overall operation of the Facility Association. At the end of the day, I want to ensure that we are taking every action possible to have the association operate as intended, that is, to provide insurance on a non-profit basis, at reasonable rates, for drivers who cannot obtain insurance in the regular market."

The review of the ruling is expected next week and Minister Noel will comment further at that time.

Media contact: Rick Callahan, Communications, (709) 729-4860.

2001 04 02                       4:50 p.m.