Minister to host Town Hall forum on insurance

Walter Noel, Minister of Government Services and Lands, will host a Town Hall forum on insurance issues at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 18, at the Holiday Inn on Portugal Cove Road, St. John�s.

"This will be an opportunity for everyone interested in insurance issues to express views and have questions answered," Mr. Noel said. "My department receives many calls from people who are frustrated with insurance price increases, difficulties in getting coverage, and other issues. Insurance is a very complicated industry. Consumers often feel coverage is expensive and they are not treated reasonably. I hope the forum will help all of us understand the issues better."

The forum will address many issues, including: automobile insurance reform initiatives contained in Bill 28; escalating costs; choice automobile insurance systems which allow consumers to choose restrictions on compensation for non-economic loss (pain and suffering) in return for lower premiums; homeowners insurance, particularly availability and cost of insurance in downtown St. John�s; implementation of government�s home oil storage tank regulations and its effect on the cost and availability of insurance; and the availability and cost of commercial insurance.

Attending and participating in the forum will be representatives from insurance companies and insurance brokers, the legal community, the St. John�s Board of Trade; the province�s consumer advocate, and government officials.

Participants will include:

Mr. Winston Morris, Superintendent of Insurance
Mr. Don Forgeron, Vice-President - Atlantic Insurance Bureau of Canada
Ms. Jennifer Power, Senior Vice-President - Atlantic Canada GSU Insurance Company
Mr. Scott Beattie, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company
Mr. Dave Anthony, President and CEO Insurance Corporation of Newfoundland Limited
Mr. Frank Mumford, Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Company
Mr. John Thompson, Unifund Assurance Company
Mr. Jeffery LeGrow, President - Insurance Brokers Association of Newfoundland
Mr. Jamie Martin, Chairperson, Law Society of Newfoundland and Canadian Bar Association, Newfoundland Branch Task Force on Automobile Insurance
Mr. Peter O�Flaherty, Consumer Advocate
Mr. Mark King, St. John�s Board of Trade

Media contact: Sam Whiffen, Communications, (709) 729-4860

2003 02 14                                        9:15 a.m.