The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union

Better Coverage

All Perils Coverage – Here in Manitoba, our compulsory insurance coverage – which all drivers must purchase – includes all perils. That means things like windshield stone chips, wildlife collisions, hail damage, vandalism, fires and theft are all covered.

Drivers can pay extra to lower their deductible (same as private insurers) but everyone receives the same all perils coverage. With private insurers, coverage can be restricted based on a driver’s claims history and location. For example, someone who lives out of town and spends most of their time driving on gravel roads, may not be eligible for glass coverage from a private insurer. If someone has had a string of bad luck with their vehicle being broken into several times over a short period of time, some private insurers will refuse coverage or increase their premiums after every claim.

Unlike a private insurer, MPI cannot refuse to provide coverage and will not increase a driver's rates based on the number of claims they've made.

Rehabilitation Benefits – People don’t often think about it, but one of the main reasons we buy auto insurance is not just to repair our vehicle – sometimes we need it to get back to good health if we’re injured in an accident. Here in Manitoba, there are no time or amount dollar limits on rehabilitation benefits; it’s all based on the needs of each individual case.

However, if you’re injured in a private system like Nova Scotia’s, your benefits are capped at $25,000/person for medical bills and up to $140/week for up to 104 weeks (2 years) for lost income*. If Nova Scotians require medical services beyond that amount or time limit, they must purchase additional coverage, or pay out of their own pocket.

Proponents of the private system are quick to justify these obvious limitations by pointing out that the private system allows drivers to sue for pain and suffering or economic loss, but there are limitations to litigation. For instance, you can’t sue a wild animal that ran in front of your car. It can also take many years and thousands of dollars in legal expenses before you might see any money from litigation.

Death Benefits – We don’t like to think about it, but sometimes fatalities are a reality in traffic accidents. With the standard coverage provided in a private system, dependant or spouse survivors receive significantly less for the loss of their loved one. Here’s how three privatized provinces stack up to Manitoba:

Source: Insurance Bureau of Canada