[LabComm] Brar calls on Polak to fight for public auto insurance

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

SURREY - NDP Candidate Jagrup Brar today issued a challenge to BC Liberal Mary Polak to stand up for public auto insurance and to fight to maintain ICBC's effective anti-car theft programs.

"British Columbians don't trust Gordon Campbell to protect public auto insurance in BC," said Brar. "That's why it's critical that the Premier's hand-picked candidate in the Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election takes a clear position on the privatization of ICBC and commits to fight the Premier's privatization schemes."

Brar said that Surrey residents are benefiting from public auto insurance in the form of low rates and ICBC's effective efforts to combat car theft through programs like the Bait Car initiative. He said programs that protect Surrey from car theft are at risk with the Campbell government.

"Gordon Campbell desperately wants to carve up and sell-off ICBC," said Brar. "That's why he recently fired the ICBC chair and installed Paul Taylor, his point-man on privatization, to head up the company. We can't let Mr. Taylor and the Premier do to ICBC what they did to BC Rail and what they tried to do to the Coquihalla."

Brar was joined by NDP Leader Carole James, who said that ICBC's Bait Car program is an example of how public auto insurance benefits Surrey. With one of the worst car theft problems in Canada, the residents of Surrey need ICBC to continue to support initiatives like the Bait Car program to combat increased crime.

Launched in 2002 by the Vancouver Police, and supported with funding from ICBC, the Bait Car program works by leaving cars in auto-theft target areas. When someone breaks into a car, an automatic system videotapes the thieves and police are sent to investigate.

ICBC contributes about $38 million per year to public safety and loss prevention programs, including the bait car program and Counter Attack. James said that under a private insurance system, BC could lose valuable programs.

"For three years, the Premier has aggressively pursued privatization schemes with little public input or accountability," said James. "This by-election is an opportunity to send Mr. Campbell a clear message that he doesn't have a blank cheque to sell-off ICBC and, along with it, programs that fight car theft."

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