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ALLIANCE RIPS PC INSURANCE "REFORM" SCHEME
Edmonton, May 6, 2004:
Alberta Alliance Justice Critic Marilyn Burns pulled no punches in
hammering the Klein government today over their "pathetic bungling"
of the auto insurance issue. Burns, a lawyer and accident victim
claims that the Tories have misled Albertans both on the number of
motorists who will see significant rate reprieve and on the number
of victims who will be revictimized by a $4000 compensation cap.
"The cap will rip away
legal rights from the majority of people hurt by reckless drivers,"
said Burns. "Albertans should be deeply angered by this
fundamentally immoral and unjust compensation cap, and by the utter
absence of public consultation on this issue other than a survey the
government commissioned and then hid for six months. And that poll
showed that only 5% of Albertans support limits on compensation for
innocent victims."
Added Burns, "Premier
Klein promised significant rate relief for 80% of Albertans. Now we
discover that Tory MLAs are meeting behind closed doors to pass
reforms that will only substantially reduce premiums for at most 20%
of motorists. It's time for this government to start telling the
truth."
Concluded Burns,
"Premier Klein has embarrassed himself on this issue. He is
admittedly ignorant about auto insurance and should be welcoming
input from people offering solutions that differ with the mess being
churned out by Finance department bureaucrats. Instead, the Premier
calls these people deaf and stupid and threatens to annihilate them.
His behavior is reprehensible."
Published Wednesday May
12th, 2004 in the
Smoky Lake Signal.
©
2004
Smoky Lake Signal
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