ICBC – The Labour Movement has our back!

Some of you may know that the BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) Convention took place this week. I am proud to report to you that, on Thursday, the delegates at the BCFED Convention voted overwhelming calling on the BCFED to support our Driving Public campaign, to support the efforts of the B.C. government to fix ICBC, and to speak out against allowing private insurance companies to enter the basic car insurance market.

The last part of that resolution is the most critical. While we have had support of our campaign from our labour affiliates across the province, there has not been a direct resolution asking them to speak out specifically on preventing the privatization of our basic car insurance.

During the debate of this resolution, I had the chance to speak directly to delegates sharing with them how dedicated all of you are to your work of serving British Columbians in the face of the abuse you, as a group, have taken in the public sphere from people criticizing and calling for ICBC to go away.

I appealed to the delegates at the convention to support the resolution and to empower you to be able to get to the work you want to be doing, which is to take care of British Columbians rather than being a pawn in a political game.

I want to thank also MoveUP President David Black and Executive Councillor Greg Cordick for also speaking in support of this resolution.

David spoke about the fallacy of the idea that “competition will fix everything” and pointed out how private insurance companies are in the money-making business, making comparisons to the condo insurance crisis we are facing here in B.C. and at how health insurance in the U.S. operates.

Greg spoke about how the private car industry across Canada has claimed they are in a crisis and the only solutions they have provided is to drastically erode coverage and to continue their discriminatory practices.

The passing of this resolution shows that our work over these last couple of years is having an impact, but our work is not yet over. We know if the BC Liberals one day return to power, they will find ways to undo the work that has been accomplished to fix and improve our public car insurance system. We know this because that is what they spent 2001 to 2017 trying to do.

I am very proud of the support we have received from the Labour Movement of British Columbia. Our work now is to make sure that our public car insurance system is stable and strong for the long-term and can provide affordable rates and exceptional coverage for all British Columbians.

Thank you to the BC Federation of Labour. Thank you to our affiliate unions across B.C. And thank you to all of you for your ongoing support.

In solidarity,

Annette Toth
Vice-President, ICBC