The end of sexual discrimination in Europe!

[Heraclitus]

Yes, if "pursuing one's interest" means "lobbying for destructive regulations to benefit my particular group at the expense of the whole".

Please think away the shaming language for a second. If there is no downside and one can expect other particular groups to be doing the same, what possible incentive could one have not to do this?

Altruism? Gee that generally works so great dosen't it?

[C0ckney]

Glad you felt you could contribute

thanks, maybe one day you can too.

[C0ckney]

But relying on this too much is very dangerous - ie. the financial crisis. Models based on past data assumed that the probability of something that has never happened happening was zero. It wasn't, it happened, and we all got screwed. I agree it's a good indicator, but best not to rely solely on it, in case the future looks different to the past.

yes. that's why i used the words "usually a good indicator..."

[Wezil]

I echo nye's sentiments. Alberta's car insurance is far, far more reasonable than other provinces with fewer controls. Ontario is slowly following Alberta's lead as a result.

As I've said before, my car insurance is a third of the cost it was in Toronto. Exact same coverage.

You keep equating Ontario with Toronto. When I pointed out my Ontario rates are considerably lower than what you were paying you responded by saying I wasn't living in Toronto...

[Asher]

You keep equating Ontario with Toronto. When I pointed out my Ontario rates are considerably lower than what you were paying you responded by saying I wasn't living in Toronto...

The laws in Ontario are flawed (obscenely high liability limits), which is currently manifesting itself in big cities who are far more litigious than bumpkins in London. So it's not Toronto's problem, it's Ontario's problem.

[Wezil]

London is one of the larger cities in the province (besides as I pointed out, for insurance purposes I'm a Kingston bumpkin so your jab fails) so that argument doesn't wash.

So your complaint is with Toronto then?

[Wezil]

Asher - I'd be curious to see provincial comparisons for Canada. I know the rates vary wildly across the country. With at least a couple government run provinces in the mix the numbers could be interesting. Let's put some actual numbers to this debate.

[Asher]

London is one of the larger cities in the province (besides as I pointed out, for insurance purposes I'm a Kingston bumpkin so your jab fails) so that argument doesn't wash.

So your complaint is with Toronto then?

I have no time to look it up right now, but last year The Toronto Star (I know, I know) had a story about this where they noted that the litigation rates in Toronto are many times higher than that of London, which is why London has cheaper insurance.

[Asher]

http://www.wheels.ca/article/782242

[Wezil]

I'm having a hard time finding them but I do see articles talking about how Ontario's coverage is better (lower caps elsewhere).

I guess cheap insurance is good until you actually need it.

[Asher]

I'm having a hard time finding them but I do see articles talking about how Ontario's coverage is better (lower caps elsewhere).

"better" is not the word I would use. Absurd is more apt.

I guess cheap insurance is good until you actually need it.

Alberta's caps are more than reasonable.

In Ontario for a "minor injury" (as deemed by a doctor), the payout can be $50,000 or more.
In Alberta, it is capped at $4504. (Note that neither cap includes rehabilitation cost or replacement income, which is above and beyond this payout)

The high caps, and their wanton exploitation in major cities, is precisely why insurance rates are out of control in Ontario.

[Wezil]

Again, not with me.

The Star article you posted confirms my earlier suspicion, your problem is with Toronto.

[Asher]

No, the problem is with the law being absurd. People are getting $50,000 payouts for "neck strain", on top of rehab/income replacement. That's what Ontario's law permits.

The fact that it's being exploited in Toronto, but the crooks in London aren't as smart as the ones in Toronto, is no reason to say the law is fine.

[Wezil]

Good. I don't want some government bureaucrat to determine my injury isn't "serious" enough.

[Asher]

Doctors determine the severity of your injury, not a bureaucrat.

The system was being abused to a ridiculous degree.

The insurance industry is completely inept at stopping the problem. But what do they care, they jack rates as expenses rise anyway. No skin off their back.