B.C. Conservatives eye ending ICBC no-fault insurance, weigh private competition | Daily Hive

Lorne Doerkson's B.C. Conservatives propose replacing ICBC's no-fault system, consider private auto insurance competition

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A promise by the Conservative Party leader Lorne Doerkson to replace the provincial Crown corporation ICBC’s 2021-implemented no-fault insurance system has sparked discussion over what the changes would mean for the premiums of drivers and people injured in crashes.

At the centre of the issue is the daylighting of a letter on Sept. 29, 2026, from Doerkson to representatives of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Law Society of British Columbia, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, and Canadian Bar Association’s B.C. branch.

If the party forms government after the provincial general election on Saturday, Oct. 24, the letter commits a Conservative government to introducing new legislation during its first year in office to effectively restore the ability of people with serious injuries to seek compensation through the courts.

Over five years ago, the BC NDP-led provincial government rolled out ICBC’s no-fault insurance system, called “Enhanced Care.” The system shifted the focus from injury lawsuits to providing care and recovery benefits. ICBC reported that customers saved an average of approximately $490, or 28 per cent, on full-coverage personal auto insurance when first renewing under the new model.

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Doerkson proposes pivoting to a hybrid insurance system to replace the no-fault model, asserting that it would balance affordable premiums with protection for people seriously injured by reckless drivers.

“Everything’s on the table, including opening auto insurance to private competition to drive down auto insurance rates and bringing back sensible limits on minor-injury claims,” wrote Doerkson.

“One thing isn’t up for debate: people seriously hurt by reckless drivers deserve their day in an independent court, not just an online tribunal staffed by government appointees.”

The letter identifies Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador as jurisdictions with hybrid models that B.C. could learn from.

However, the letter does not provide a premium estimate or a detailed financial breakdown of the proposed changes. It should also be emphasized that the introduction of private competition is described as an option under consideration, rather than a finalized commitment.

Doerkson says the legislation would be developed with input from ICBC, lawyers, insurers, healthcare providers, civil liberties organizations, groups advocating for injured people, and taxpayer representatives.

The letter also includes a separate commitment to repeal the BC NDP’s 2024 Legal Professions Act changes, which he argues interfere with the legal profession’s ability to govern itself.

BC NDP and union assert the Conservative proposal would ‘line pockets’ of trial lawyers

MoveUP — a major local union, including for 5,000 workers employed by ICBC — and the BC NDP asserted today that the proposed overhaul would double auto insurance rates. The Conservatives rejected that prediction, accusing their opponents of using unsupported figures to alarm drivers.

MoveUP accused the Conservatives of making a private promise to the insurance industry and trial lawyers, arguing that restoring more injury litigation would increase costs for motorists.

“British Columbians now have access to the most affordable auto insurance rates in the country, and Lorne Doerkson knows that people won’t support his plan because it would double rates,” charged Annette Toth, the president of MoveUP.

“That’s why he made this promise privately and hasn’t disclosed it to British Columbians. His plan would line the pockets of the private insurance and trial lawyer industries by taking money right out of the pockets of British Columbians and leaving us all worse off.”

Speaking at an unrelated press conference this morning, reacting to the revelation of the letter, BC NDP leader David Eby accused Doerkson of privately agreeing to changes that would benefit trial lawyers at drivers’ expense. He argued the proposal would undo his BC NDP administration’s efforts to lower insurance costs.

Eby said the previous approach consumed billions of dollars in lengthy legal disputes that could otherwise have gone towards helping injured people recover. He warned that families already facing financial pressure could not absorb a doubling of their insurance bills.

“For a leader of a major party in this province to enter into a secret deal with those lawyers to sell out British Columbians and not tell them the truth is disgraceful. My commitment to British Columbians is always to be straight with you, to always tell you how we’re going to pay for stuff and what our plan is,” said Premier Eby.

“I am astonished how reckless and foolish and shameful this secret deal is. I hope that I can do my part in helping British Columbians understand what this secret deal would mean for their car insurance, because I know that they can’t afford it.”

With all that said, while the BC NDP are accusing Doerkson of secrecy, it is within the realm of possibility that the Conservatives were planning to publicly announce this platform position at a later date, given that the provincial election campaign cycle is still in the very early stages, with the deadline for Election BC’s candidate list being this past weekend.

Farnworth says ICBC can improve no-fault system without returning to injury lawsuits

At a separate BC NDP media availability held shortly after, completely dedicated to directly addressing the Conservatives’ insurance proposal, Port Coquitlam MLA candidate and the B.C. Minister of Transportation Mike Farnworth also criticized the proposal and argued that the Conservatives had made commitments to industry representatives without being open with voters.

Farnworth was asked about families who believe ICBC’s current system provides inadequate compensation after fatal crashes or serious injuries, with some people falling through the system’s cracks.

In August 2026, for example, Daily Hive Urbanized reported on Vancouver motorcycle rider Erica Sullivan’s frustrations with ICBC’s no-fault system. A crash left her with a serious knee injury. Sullivan said the driver accepted full responsibility, but her initial compensation offer was $3,800. Her damaged meniscus had to be removed, and she said she could eventually need a knee replacement.

Sullivan said the injury disrupted an active lifestyle that included skiing, mountain biking, and baseball. She argued that the compensation process did not adequately account for her circumstances and found it frustrating to seek a reassessment. She also criticized her inability to sue the driver for compensation for pain and suffering under the model.

ICBC said it had provided more than $12,500 in additional medical, rehabilitation, and daily living support to Sullivan, including physiotherapy, massage therapy, and counselling. The insurer said permanent impairment compensation is governed by provincial regulations and pledged to continue supporting her recovery. At the time, Sullivan’s claim remained open, with the possibility of reassessment.

In response today to such severe injury scenarios, Farnworth defended Enhanced Care, asserting that the previous system it replaced could leave people waiting years for court decisions, with legal fees taking roughly one-third of their settlements. He argued that ongoing treatment under the current model could exceed the amount available through a settlement tied to an at-fault driver’s insurance coverage.

“The Enhanced Care model ensures that you get the care you need or as long as you need it in terms of your recovery,” said Farnworth.

He added that improvements to the system remain an ongoing effort and pointed to appeal processes for people dissatisfied with their coverage. When asked whether a hybrid model could allow people to pursue legal action after finding ICBC’s process to be inadequate, he reiterated his support for public insurance and his warning about higher premiums under the Conservative proposal.

The Conservatives disputed those claims in their own response, asserting that a provincial government led by their party would continue to keep insurance affordable while improving support for people seriously injured by reckless drivers. They accused the BC NDP and the union of manufacturing alarming premium figures, arguing that the current system has failed people and families dealing with serious injuries.

MoveUP pointed to a 2022 Ernst & Young study comparing insurance prices for 30 different driver profiles across nine provinces.

The study, commissioned by ICBC with support from public insurers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, found that an 18-year-old male novice driver with a 2012 Honda Civic would face an average annual premium of $2,551 across the sampled B.C. cities, compared with $5,936 in Alberta — a difference of $3,385. It should be noted that those 2022 figures describe that particular driver profile, rather than the average premium paid by all drivers in either province.

With files from Amir Ali

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