Kudos to editor John Harding for stimulating a response from ICBC senior vice-president Steve Kendall. Unfortunately, Kendall’s comments continue to fuel added questions as to the purpose and design of ICBC.
In his letter to the editor in response to Harding’s editorial, Kendall states that ICBC contributed about $7 million to mainland B.C highways last fiscal period. I may be confused, but is it not the B.C. Ministry of Transportation that handles highway infrastructure responsibilities for B.C.? At that, $7 million dollars does not seem to be sufficient to build/repair/improve too many kilometres of B.C.’s road needs.
Many in the province seem to forget that we live on an Island. Therefore, we have no connection to mainland highway systems. Unlike PEI (population approximately 150,000 and a land mass area of about 5,660 sq km) that is connected to the mainland by highway/bridge, we on Vancouver Island (population approximately 790,000 and a land mass of about 31,285 sq km) are not connected directly to the mainland.
We, on the Island, do not benefit from our share of the premium contributions we pay to ICBC. Aside from road limitations here, ICBC must also understand that we pay about twice as much in premiums for auto insurance as opposed to other parts of Canada. My analysis is mostly Wikipedia referenced.
What I pay ICBC in premiums is in excess of what my total auto insurance needs would be should I be driving in the most congested area within Canada.
Camillo TofanoQualicum Beach
