Understanding insurance

Re: Aid for hail damage called too little, June 26

I agree with the decision of our government to pay only for uninsurable loss and damage caused by this storm.

There is no basis upon which the taxpayers should pick up the tab. Depreciated value is a basic principle of insurance law.

If your 10-year-old car was destroyed in an accident, you would not expect your insurance company to buy you a new vehicle. You certainly would not ask the taxpayers to pick up the shortfall.

Why should it be any different in this case?

It is unfortunate that some homeowners did not understand their insurance policies, but this is hardly the fault of the citizens of Alberta.

Philip E. Carr, Calgary