New Democrat ICBC Critic Harry Lali blasted the Campbell government, following reports that ICBC can now charge $25 per driver in addition to the principal driver’s Harry Laliauto insurance per household.

“ICBC rates have been skyrocketing ever since the Campbell government took over,” said Lali, the MLA for Yale Lillooet. “Instead of ensuring lower rates for safe drivers and rebates for insurance policy users, the B.C. Liberals keep empowering ICBC to gouge motorists so they can use it as a cash cow.”

Earlier this week, the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) approved ICBC’s request for a new $25 charge per non-principal driver per household.

“The only people that seem to benefit from the never-ending auto insurance hikes are ICBC’s own executives already making huge salaries and fat bonuses,” said Lali. “The Campbell government is willing to squander $400 million in convention centre cost overruns, but they will not protect B.C. families from ICBC cash grabs.”

Following last May’s auto insurance rate increase, ICBC reported a profit of $256 million for the first six months of 2007, a staggering 132 per cent increase over the previous year for the same period. Meanwhile, the performance pay for ICBC executives increased by 30 per cent and motorists got no relief.

Harry Lali

Fraser-Nicola

Harry Lali served as Minister of Transportation and Highways from February, 1998, to February, 2001.