Auto Insurance Companies once again reached record profits during the COVID-19 Pandemic and continue to do so. Premiums continue to remain high and insurer profits excessive all while consumers are denied the benefits that they are legally obliged to buy into.  

Very concerning is FSRA's recent formation of an auto insurance reform committee, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Transforming Auto Insurance Regulation.  The TAC’s mandate includes “evaluating consumer benefits and harms related to policy issues, such as fairness, profitability, operational risk management, scope of rate regulation/coverage, and transparency”.  

If the goals are to be “consumer centred” and to “protect consumers”, as Tim Bzowey, executive vice president for auto insurance products at FSRA, states, the goals of the committee will not be achieved unless the committee is immediately reconstituted to include consumers, their legal representatives and rehabilitation professionals.

Further, FSRA has demonstrated a surprising lack of initiative in revising the Professional Services Guidelines which has remained static since 2013.  While the cost of providing care has increased dramatically over the past decade, the reimbursement rates have not followed suit. FSRA's apparent inaction in this matter is, frankly, an abdication of its duty to oversee a balanced and healthy sector.

Finally, the aftermath of the Malitskiy v. Unica decision leaves many seriously injured Ontarians without vital Attendant Care Support, a situation which we believe FSRA should have acted swiftly to address.  

We are compelled to request intervention to review the actions of FSRA and to instigate a more inclusive dialogue, encompassing all stakeholders for a truly comprehensive, balanced, and fair reform in Ontario's auto insurance sector.

We are asking for the following:

1.      The TAC to be immediately reconstituted to include consumers, their legal representatives and rehabilitation professionals.

2.      The Professional Services Guidelines and the prescribed rates for treatment providers to be reviewed and increased fairly.

3.      For direction to be given to the FRSA to issue guidance to insurers supporting their previous Superintendent’s Guideline No. 01/18 (Attendant Care Hourly Rate Guideline).  This guideline states that the intended purpose of the Attendant Care Hourly Rates is to calculate a monetary amount for the monthly benefit as opposed to serving as an hourly rate cap.

Please join us in signing this petition to create a more fair and balanced auto insurance system.