The Manitoba government has introduced legislation that would allow Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) to strengthen benefits under the Personal Injury Protection Plan while clarifying its scope, better protect ratepayers from fraudulent claims and offer safety measures such as low-cost winter tire programs. This statement was made by Justice Minister Andrew Swan, minister responsible for MPI.
“Manitobans deserve and expect that their public auto insurer will be there to help them and their families in the case of injury,” Minister Swan said. “The new rules we are proposing today will improve benefits and allow MPI to help prevent accidents and promote road safety, while keeping rates low.”
The proposed changes would:
- enable MPI to offer safety measures such as low-cost winter tire purchase programs, details of which will be announced in the upcoming months;
- enhance benefits for catastrophically injured people;
- provide temporary replacement income for temporary workers who have lost jobs because of an accident;
- increase death payments to $13,154 for non-dependent children and parents of someone killed in an accident, and index the payments annually;
- clarify that personal-injury coverage is not intended for vehicles such as golf carts (that can’t be registered as motor vehicles) unless an automobile vehicle in motion is involved in the accident; and
- make it an offence to knowingly provide false or misleading information to MPI as well as clarify the powers of investigators so they may investigate and enforce the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act.
“These new measures will ensure MPI continues to be responsive to the changing needs of Manitobans,” Minister Swan said. “They will also help MPI keep costs down and continue to offer the most affordable insurance in Canada.”
MPI benefits cover all Manitobans, regardless of whether they hold a driver’s licence or own a vehicle. If someone is injured as the result of an automobile accident, they are entitled to benefits as set out in the Personal Injury Protection Plan.
