CBA Alberta laments passage of legislation for no-fault, for-profit auto coverage model

“Albertans told us they value fairness, accountability and the ability to seek justice,” Bassett said in the branch’s news release. “These concerns should have been central in shaping this legislation.”

CBA Alberta emphasized its commitment to offering the provincial government the legal insights of its membership so that the implementation of the new system will be fair, transparent, and in service of the public interest.

Survey of Albertans

“We believe it is essential to take the time needed to carefully study the proposed changes and consider how they align with Albertans’ values and access to justice,” Bassett said in a previous news release of CBA Alberta.

“We urge the government to take the time to work with legal professionals and others with direct experience in the system to ensure the changes are fair, effective and in the public interest,” said M. Jenny McMordie, who co-chairs CBA Alberta’s working group on auto insurance reform, in the news release.

To explore this issue further, CBA Alberta commissioned a study conducted by Nanos Research. The recently released survey results revealed that, among Albertans polled:

• 19 percent thought it was likely – while 47 percent found it unlikely – that auto insurance premiums would be cheaper upon Alberta’s implementation of a no-fault system, run and administered by for-profit insurers
• 75 percent supported the right to sue for compensation against someone causing harm or injury
• 82 percent said the system should hold individuals legally and financially responsible for their acts leading to harm or injury
• 52 percent believed it was not urgent or somewhat not urgent to amend the province’s auto insurance model
• Less than one percent considered auto insurance a priority
• The following came up as the most pressing concerns: healthcare (51 percent), cost of living (25 percent), education (22 percent), and affordable housing (19 percent)

“This research highlights just how strongly Albertans value accountability and the ability to seek recourse when they’ve been harmed,” McMordie said in the news release. “These findings point to a need for further consultation.”

“These are significant changes to auto insurance that will directly affect the rights of Albertans,” Bassett said in the news release. “We commissioned this research to better understand Albertans’ perspectives and ensure those views are part of the conversation.”

The recent study of Nanos Research considered the responses of 1,087 Albertan adults in an online representative survey held between Mar. 24 and Apr. 1.

“Albertans are sending a clear message: People want fairness, accountability, and the ability to seek justice when they’re harmed,” said Nik Nanos, Nanos Research chief data scientist, in the news release. “They are skeptical that the proposed changes will lower their premiums.”

CBA Alberta noted that the survey’s findings aligned with those in a June 2024 survey conducted by The Strategic Counsel on Alberta’s behalf. This research revealed that 73 percent of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the ability to sue someone at fault was key to holding them accountable.

Canadian Lawyer’s top 20 personal injury boutiques for 2025 have touched upon recent auto insurance changes, including in Alberta.