Auto Insurance. This Review
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CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report Final Report Addressing: The NOVA SCOTIA AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE REVIEW Prepared for: THE GOVERNMENT OF NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Department of Finance Provincial Building, 7th Floor 1723 Hollis Street, PO Box 187 Halifax, NS B3J 2N3 Submitted by CFN CONSULTANTS (ATLANTIC) INC TD Centre 1791 Barrington Street, Suite 300 Halifax, NS. B3J 3K9 CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Proprietary CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. TD Centre Vendor Name 1791 Barrington Street, Suite 300 Halifax, NS B3J 3K9 Contact Name Ron L‟Esperance Contact Phone (902) 491-4279 Contact Fax (902) 429-5237 Contact e-mail [email protected] Name and Title of Person authorized to sign on behalf of Bidder Name: Ron L‟Esperance Title: Principal Signature: Date: May 31st, 2011 CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Proprietary CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 PRINCIPAL FINDINGS ......................................................................................................... 1 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................... 2 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1 – BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF REVIEW ................................................. 8 1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 8 1.1 CURRENT SITUATION .............................................................................................. 8 1.2 PROJECT SCOPE AND TIME-LINES ............................................................................. 9 1.3 PROJECT DELIVERABLES ........................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER 2 – PROCESS ................................................................................................... 11 2.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 11 2.1 PROCESS ............................................................................................................ 11 2.1.1 Activity 1 – Start Up and Orientation .......................................................... 11 2.1.2 Activity 2 – Research, Jurisdictional Review and Bench-Marking ............... 11 2.1.3 Activity 3 – Stakeholder Meetings and Written Submissions ...................... 13 2.1.4 Activity 4 – Public Input .............................................................................. 13 2.1.5 Activity 5 –Advisory Committee Consultation ............................................. 14 2.1.6 Activity 6 – Report Preparation and Presentation ....................................... 14 2.1.7 Activity 7 – Administration and Project Management ................................. 14 2.2 STAFFING ........................................................................................................... 15 2.3 PROJECT PLAN ..................................................................................................... 15 2.4 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 3 – FINDINGS.................................................................................................. 16 3.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 16 CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Proprietary i CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report 3.1 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................... 17 3.2 THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ................................................................................ 18 3.3 GENERAL FINDINGS .............................................................................................. 21 3.4 PRINCIPAL FINDINGS ........................................................................................... 23 3.5 OTHER ISSUES IDENTIFIED .................................................................................... 24 3.6 ISSUES RAISED BY THE PUBLIC ............................................................................... 26 3.7 INSURANCE STANDARDIZATION .............................................................................. 29 3.8 PRINCIPLES UNDERPINNING THE REVIEW AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................ 30 3.9 KEY ISSUES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS .................................................................. 31 3.9.1 Section B Benefits ........................................................................................ 32 3.9.2 Minor Injury Protocols ................................................................................. 36 3.9.3 Optional Tort Product .................................................................................. 39 3.9.4 Fairness for Inexperienced Drivers ............................................................. 41 3.9.5 Reimbursement of Volunteer Fire Fighters ................................................. 43 3.9.6 Vicarious Liability and Primacy – Rented Vehicles ...................................... 45 3.10 OTHER RELATED ISSUES ........................................................................................ 46 3.10.1 Direct Compensation for Property Damage............................................. 46 3.10.2 Automobile Insurance/Vehicle Registration ........................................... 48 3.10.3 Premium Increase Prohibition for Damages Paid by the Insured ........... 49 3.10.4 Insurance Fraud ....................................................................................... 51 3.10.5 Introduction of a New Classification for Accident Victims ...................... 53 3.10.6 Pay as You Go Insurance ......................................................................... 55 3.10.7 Automobile Insurance Issues Impacting Immigrants ............................. 56 3.10.8 Modifying Small Claims Court Act ............................................................ 58 3.11 CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT/EDUCATION .................................................................... 59 3.12 OBLIGATION TO REVIEW INSURANCE ....................................................................... 61 3.13 DISTRACTED DRIVING........................................................................................... 62 3.14 LEGISLATIVE SCANNING EXERCISE .......................................................................... 63 3.15 MEDICALLY AT RISK DRIVERS ................................................................................ 63 3.16 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 66 CHAPTER 4 – CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 67 CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Proprietary ii CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report ANNEX A – STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS ............................................................................ 68 Tables TABLE 1 - CFN CONSULTANTS REVIEW TEAM ........................................................................... 15 TABLE 2 - STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS ...................................................................................... 19 TABLE 3 - ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS ................................................................................... 20 TABLE 4 – NS SECTION B BENEFITS COMPARED TO SEF 48 BENEFITS ......................................... 32 CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Proprietary iii CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. Reference: NS Auto Insurance Final Report Executive Summary Introduction CFN Consultants (Atlantic) Inc. (CFN) was contracted to complete a comprehensive review of auto insurance in Nova Scotia. The Review, based on research, a jurisdictional review, stakeholder consultation and two rounds of feedback from the public and key stakeholders called for the completion of an interim report and a final report. The Interim Report was tabled on March 31st, 2011. This is the Final Report on the Nova Scotia Automobile Insurance Review. The Automobile Insurance Review was led by Ron L‟Esperance, an experienced, independent Project Leader. Mr. L‟Esperance and was supported internally by seasoned Halifax-based, consultant Jon Corston, a project management professional. Principal Findings The review‟s principal findings are noted here at the high level and examined in detail within this Report. Principal findings in respect to the designated issues identified in the terms of reference are as follows: a. Section B Benefits: These are broadly considered to be too low in Nova Scotia and we are also, for the most part, significantly out of step with the rest of the country in respect to the level of these benefits; b. Minor Injury Protocols: The diagnostic and treatment protocols, as implemented in the Province of Alberta, are viewed to be effective. These protocols are based on the best medical evidence available in respect to the importance