Advisory committee to address automobile insurance

Minister Toews, along with expert advisory committee members Chris Daniel, Shelley Miller, QC and Dr. Larry Ohlhauser.

The three-person committee includes a consumer representative as well as legal and medical experts. The committee will provide recommendations to government about how to stabilize and reduce the cost of auto insurance, while ensuring injured Albertans are protected with appropriate treatment and compensation in recovery.

“We know the automobile insurance industry in our province is no longer meeting Albertans’ needs. We pay some of the highest automobile insurance rates in the country. Our government is committed to addressing this problem and making necessary changes to automobile insurance. I look forward to the committee’s report and findings.”

Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

The expert committee will engage with Albertans, industry stakeholders, and legal and medical experts as they gather information and develop recommendations on how government can improve Alberta’s automobile insurance system.

The committee will be guided by the following principles:

  • Fair, accessible and affordable automobile insurance for Albertans.
  • Timely and appropriate outcomes when claims are made.
  • A private-sector delivery model for automobile insurance.
  • A viable and sustainable automobile insurance system.

Committee membership

Consumer and insurance industry expert

  • Chris Daniel, who is in his second term as the consumer representative on the Automobile Insurance Rate Board, will chair the committee. He brings nearly four decades of experience in consumer representation in the insurance industry.

Legal expert

  • Shelley Miller, QC, is a highly experienced lawyer with specific expertise in auto insurance reform. Her practice has encompassed a broad range of insurance consulting activities, and she participated in comprehensive auto insurance reviews for the Government of Alberta, the Council of the Atlantic Premiers, and the Government of New South Wales (Australia), among others.

Medical expert

  • Dr. Larry Ohlhauser is the chief medical advisor to the superintendent of insurance. He has served as medical advisor to the superintendent of insurance for the past 12 years. In 2001, he founded a health-sector management consulting firm that helps government institutions, large municipal organizations and private providers in health care to deliver better, more efficient, more customer-centric health service delivery to patients.

The committee will report back to government in the spring 2020 legislative session. Government is committed to making the necessary changes to ensure that automobile insurance is affordable, accessible and sustainable.


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