Public Hearings Wrapping Up on Insurance Issues

N.S. INSURANCE REVIEW BOARD--Public Hearings Wrapping Up on Insurance Issues

The Nova Scotia Insurance Review Board continues to travel the province to hear from Nova Scotians on two important insurance issues.

The board is tasked with conducting studies on two insurance topics and reporting back to government by Nov. 1. It will examine: -- the rates and availability of fire, other property, casualty, and liability insurance for homeowners, tenants, non-profit organizations and small business; and -- the use of gender as a risk classification factor in determining automobile insurance rates.

The Insurance Review Board was appointed in December 2003 as part of government auto insurance reforms designed to protect consumers. The new board will review rates and rules and will monitor the system to ensure reforms are working for consumers.

Hearings have been widely advertised and are taking place across the province from May 13 to June 2. They have already been held in Port Hawksbury, Sydney, New Glasgow, Amherst, Liverpool, and Yarmouth. The final leg of the schedule brings the board to Middleton, Truro and Halifax.

Presenters are encouraged to pre-register by contacting the Insurance Review Board. Registration will also take place before each hearing session on a first-come, first-served basis only. Written submissions can also be sent to the board by e-mail at [email protected], by fax at 902-428-5781, or by mail to the Nova Scotia Insurance Review Board, P.O. Box 697, Halifax, N.S., B3J 2T8.

For more information, or to register, contact the board by phone at 902-424-8685 or by e-mail at [email protected] .