JAN., 1971: PREMIER ED SCHREYER said that compulsory government auto insurance will be cheaper and "more humane" because the mechanism to make it so is within the hands of the public.
MARCH 25, 1971: Premier Ed Schreyer said that the public auto insurance scheme will result in immediate savings of 15 per cent to all Manitoba motorists and predicted that a reduction in premiums could total as much as 20 per cent by the third or fourth month of operation.
"The percentage saving on premiums will be at least as good as we have been projecting and maybe marginally better than we have been projecting." said Schreyer then.
MARCH 26, 1971: Ed Schreyer says that if the people of Manitoba give the compulsory auto insurance scheme one year to work they won't want to give it up.
"There is no question at all that almost 100 per cent of motorists will enjoy significant savings."
JULY 20, 1971: Premier Schreyer said that under the Manitoba government's Autopac rates should not go up for three years. The present rates were designed to prevent the need for an increase soon, said Schreyer. "Our premiums will be kept constant next year, the year after that, and the year after that.
NOV. 9, 1971: Premier Ed Schreyer revealed that automobile premiums under the Autopac scheme were deliberately inflated by five to eight per cent so rates could remain at the current level for two or three years. "There is a slight marginal surplus...the rates were set to provide a slight margin so that we could stabilize the rates for a few years."
NOV. 14, 1971: Municipal Affairs Minister Howard Pawley says Autopac's projected surplus during its first year of operation is possible because some of the premium money not needed immediately to pay claims will be invested.
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AUG. 9, 1972: Although there will be no general rate increase or decrease, there will be minor changes in public automobile insurance rates next year, said Howard Pawley.
SEPT. 29, 1972: Autopac premiums for new automobiles will probably increase each year to reflect increased purchase prices and repair costs Ed Schreyer said. At the same time, however, premiums could be reduced for new automobiles with additional safety features or for older cars that are constantly depreciating in value, Ed Schreyer added.
OCT. 24, 1972: Premier Ed Schreyer said that Autopac will end its first year of operation "with a modest surplus" of $1 million or $2 million which will likely be used for rate stabilization purposes.
MARCH 28, 1973: Premier Ed Schreyer said that Autopac is such a success that the government might consider using the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation to provide increased insurance for ships using the Port of Churchill.
NOV. 21, 1973: Autopac rates will increase by approximately 10 to 15 per cent next year because of an unexpected 36 per cent increase in damage claims, Ed Schreyer said.
DEC. 11, 1973: William Uruski, minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corp. branded as "speculation" an estimate that premiums for extended Autopac coverage could increase by as much as 35 per cent. Mr. Uruski indicated that coverage up to 20 per cent more. The premier mentioned a 10 to 15 per cent increase.
FEB. 24, 1974: Autopac announces a deficit of $10.1 million, $2 million more than was suggested three months earlier.
APRIL 2, 1974: Bill Uruski states that motorists in Manitoba are paying the lowest insurance premiums in Canada. He did not mention the $10.1 million deficit of the year previous.
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APRIL 16, 1974: Bill Uruski states there is no chance that Autopac premiums would ever reach the level of private premiums.
APRIL 23, 1974: Autopac premium increases in 1975 will be in "the same neighborhood" as this year's 9.5 per cent increase, said J.O. Dutton, Autopac general manager.
APRIL 26, 1974: The blame for Autopac's disastrous $10.1 million loss last year and continued problems this year lies directly with the drivers, said Bill Uruski.
JAN. 3, 1975: Manitobans will pay 14 to 19½ per cent more for basic compulsory automobile insurance in 1975, Bill Uruski announced.
JAN. 21, 1975: Owners of super-luxury cars face increases of up to 55 per cent in their premiums and owners of cars considered middle-sized could face increases of 20 to 30 per cent more.
JAN. 27, 1975: A senior Autopac official admitted that 30 per cent of Manitoba's motorist will pay between 21 and 75 per cent more for basic coverage this year.
MARCH 10, 1975: Bill Uruski accuses both Winnipeg daily newspapers of a filthy campaign against Autopac to cover their own failure to report accurately his announcement of rate increases.
MARCH 28, 1975: It is announced that Autopac lost $9,978,600 in 1974.
FEB. 6, 1976: NEWS ITEM: The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation launches lawsuit against Winnipeg Free Press over published reports about corporation's financing. The libel suit follows a report in the newspaper which MPIC claims is erroneous.
FEB. 10, 1976: It has been discovered after researching files that the MPIC has been known to make erroneous statements in the past.
ANYONE CARE TO SUE THEM?
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