Notice
Amendments to the classification of road vehicles and
automobile insurance contributions
Draft Regulation respecting insurance contributions
Automobile Insurance Act (R.S.Q., c. A-25); Act respecting the
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (R.S.Q., c.
S-11.011)
Before amending the Regulation respecting insurance
contributions, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
must get a report from a panel of experts formed for that
purpose. The mandate given to this panel is to review the
approach taken by the Société and verify the data used in
support of the regulatory modifications it proposes.
The Panel of Experts must hold hearings on automobile insurance
contributions and submit its report to the Société’s Board of
Directors on the date set by the Board, December 7, 2011.
Notice is hereby given that after the date the report is
tabled, the draft Regulation respecting insurance contributions
published in the Gazette officielle du Québec dated August 25,
2011 can be adopted by the Société.
Financing of the public automobile insurance plan is governed
by one fundamental principle: driver’s licence holders or
vehicle owners must pay their fair share, based on the risk
associated with their driving behaviour and the type of vehicle
they drive.
The financial situation of the Fonds d’assurance automobile du Québec consists of two components, that is, financing and funding:
- Financing means that enough money is collected in a
given year to cover the compensation benefits that are paid out
for accidents that have occurred in the same year;
- Funding is the relationship between assets of the Fonds on a
given date and the amounts required to ensure payment of future
compensation benefits for accidents that occurred prior to that
date.
The Société’s objectives to ensure an equitable and sustainable plan are:
- Reviewing insurance contributions in connection with plan financing;
- Targeting full funding of the plan without raising the
insurance contributions of the majority of contributors;
- funding of the plan by vehicle users;
- Scheduling a review of the financial situation of the Fonds d’assurance every three years.
To attain these objectives, the Société therefore proposes the following changes:
- Making no changes to insurance contributions for 2011 and 2012, allowing for exceptions;
- Maintaining insurance contributions for 2013 at their 2012 rate for owners of passenger vehicles and driver’s licence holders who have no demerit points;
- Adjustment of the insurance contribution for driver’s licence holders who have demerit points;
- As of 2012, introduction of a new insurance contribution upon the acquisition of a new or used motorcycle;
- Taking into account demerit points when setting the insurance contribution for drivers’ licences for driving a motorcycle;
- As of 2012, amendment of insurance contributions and criteria defining the restricted-area use motorcycle (zones of 70 km/h or less);
- As of 2013, adjustment of insurance contributions in respect of mopeds and motorized scooters;
- In 2012, distinguishing public buses weighing over 10,000 kg to create two classes with distinct rate schedules: buses owned by public transit authorities and other buses;
- In 2013 and 2014, introduction of a new classification in respect of buses with distinct rate schedules: buses owned by public transit authorities, school buses, other buses weighing 10,000 kg or less, and other buses weighing more than 10,000 kg;
- As of 2013, reduction of insurance contributions for registration of other vehicles, except for restricted-area use vehicles;
- Allocating an amount, drawn from insurance contributions on vehicle registrations and drivers’ licences, to plan funding until the accumulated deficit has been totally eliminated.
Discussion Document
The Société has produced a discussion document, On the Right
Path, which explains the proposed changes. This document and the
draft Regulation respecting insurance contributions are
available for consultation on the website www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
These documents may also be obtained by writing to the following address:
Direction des communications
Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
Case postale 19600
333, boul. Jean-Lesage, O-M-51
Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6
Fax: (418) 644-5861
Public Consultation
The Panel of Experts will be holding public hearings as follows:
October 17 and 18, 2011
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Holiday Inn Select Montréal
99, avenue Viger Ouest
Montréal
|
October 24 and 25, 2011
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hôtel Palace Royal
775, avenue Honoré-Mercier
Québec
|
The panel reserves the right to schedule more dates and extend the hours of hearings into the evening, if warranted.
Parties interested in submitting a brief or making their comments in writing on the subject of the draft regulation must send a copy to the panel by 5 p.m. on
September 26, 2011.
The rules for presentation of briefs and submission of written comments may be viewed on the expert panel's website at: www.conseilexpert.aauto.ca.
Address
Mr. Michel Sanschagrin, Chair
Conseil d’experts sur les contributions d’assurance automobile
400, boulevard Jean-Lesage, local 348
Québec (Québec) G1R 8W1
Telephone: 418 643-1890; 1 855-622-4077 (toll-free)
Fax: 418 643-1866; 1 855-622-4078 (toll-free)
MICHEL SANSCHAGRIN, chair
