Skyrocketing rates at ICBC, particularly among new drivers, have had some people calling for the province to open things up to competition.

Speaking on the NL Morning News, Finance Minister Carol James was clear on her thoughts of letting private insurers into the game. “Well I certainly hope not for driver’s sake in British Columbia.”

“If you look at private insurance across this country, we see rates that are much more extreme than anything we’re seeing here and some real challenges in drivers even being able to get insurance at anything that they can afford.”

The Minister went on to say “Even the previous government took a look at private insurance and turned their back on it because they discovered that it was much more expensive so we need to do everything we can, as I said, to get things back on track.”

James added “I’m angry as I was when I was Finance Minister and came in and found this mess a ICBC. It certainly wasn’t fair to the rate payers who are all British Columbians who are drivers in this province.”