END SGI MONOPOLY

I thank Les MacPherson for his column regarding SGI’s gouging of motorcyclists.

I was well aware of the offensive prices SGI is forcing upon its customers, and I am glad that it has been made clear to the public. What is ironic about our obscene motorcycle insurance rates is that SGI was founded by the T.C. Douglas government because Saskatchewan residents were being taken advantage of by out-of-province companies who set rates too high.

Almost the same thing is happening 70 years later, only this time it is the government allowing its SGI monopoly to take advantage of residents who choose to ride a motorcycle five months a year. Keep in mind that these same people also own and insure at least one other vehicle all year.

SGI justifies this gouging by providing gold-plated coverage that riders should have the option of providing for themselves, especially when only three per cent of the ransom goes to repairs. If motorcyclists choose to wear shorts and T-shirts while riding and want scarring coverage, they should pay for it themselves.

Conveniently for SGI, this forced coverage is so expensive that motorcycles are rapidly disappearing from Saskatchewan roads, which was quite obviously the company’s goal in the first place. It is time for the SGI monopoly to end. Rob Loomer Saskatoon