RED TAPE
Province allows electronic proof of auto insurance
Drivers can now opt for electronic proof of car insurance instead of keeping a paper copy on hand, says the province.
The move aims to modernize the process for consumers and follows similar steps taken in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, said associate minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter.
“This is about increasing options to those who prefer to have access to these documents without the hassle of carrying the traditional paper copy,” Hunter said at a Monday news conference at the Alberta Motor Association.
Insurance companies will decide whether or not to provide the service, which requires building a mobile app or an email application. The timeline for rollout is up to those companies.
The province didn’t have an estimate for how much it would save consumers.
“There will be a bit of a transition period, that’s why we don’t have that number,” said Celyeste Power, vice-president for the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Western Region, highlighting that it’s an optin service. “We feel this is very big for us to meet consumer needs.”
The announcement is part of the government’s red tape reduction plan, Hunter said.
Power noted that the change doesn’t eliminate a piece of red tape, but instead amends a process.
“This is a much better rule,” she said.
Earlier this month, the province revealed the first two industry panels that will propose ways to cut red tape for businesses, and pledged to unveil others soon.
A 10-member panel will focus on tourism and hospitality, while a nine-person panel examines oil and gas.
Hunter said he doesn’t have numbers on how many regulations have been cut or amended by the government so far, and said the first report on the issue would be released in 2020.
He also said the government is using keywords including “shall” and “must” to find potential unnecessary regulations electronically in legislation.
During the election campaign, the UCP promised to cut red tape and regulations in the province by one-third. The province rolled out related legislation during the recent session.
Bill 4, the Red Tape Reduction Act, didn’t include a timeline, or the definition of an unnecessary regulation.
Premier Jason Kenney said he wanted the public service to use discretion and be innovative in how to reduce red tape.
The NDP previously criticized Bill 4, with critic Chris Nielsen calling the piece of legislation “a big ball of red tape” that “reads like a script of buzzwords.”
The Edmonton-decore MLA also voiced concerns about the health and safety of Albertans and the environment if regulations are cut.