Letters

Year-End Summary

Chairperson's Message

President's Message

Driving progress, delivering value

Management Discussion

Financial

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Board of Directors
(L to R)

FRONT ROW
Manisha Pandya
Jake Janzen,
Chairperson
Daryl Reid

BACK ROW
Kerry Bittner,
Vice-Chairperson
Mary Johnson
Annette Maloney
Debbie Mintz
Ed Arndt
Marilyn McLaren,
Ex-Officio
Dale Paterson

Message from the Chairperson

Just over 40 years ago, Manitoba started the work necessary to create the universally available mandatory public auto insurance program that exists today. From that work, the following founding principles were developed that still serve as the Corporation’s key goals and objectives today:

• Universally available mandatory insurance protection against the cost of automobile accidents;
• Rates lower than those charged by private insurance companies for comparable coverage;
• Financial self-sufficiency, with no subsidies or other assistance from general government revenues;
• Return 85 per cent of premium revenue in the form of claims benefits;
• Operate at a financial breakeven level over the long term;
• Minimize public inconvenience in insurance claims procedures;
• Pursue traffic safety and loss prevention programs; and
• Encourage investment of insurance capital in Manitoba.

While over the past 40 years, we’ve closely followed these principles, we recognize that customer expectations have changed, and as such we have adapted and modified how we achieve these principles to align our efforts with these changing norms and expectations.

For example, we administer a world-class Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) that supports Manitobans in their recovery from automobile accidents. During 2009/10, the Manitoba government made significant improvements to PIPP that guaranteed that all catastrophically-injured claimants will receive enhanced benefits over the course of their lifetimes.

This included an immediate payment of $14 million in enhanced benefits to Manitobans who had been catastrophically injured in automobile collisions since PIPP began in 1994. The Corporation has set aside an additional $60.2 million to provide ongoing and future enhanced benefits to these individuals. And of course, these enhanced benefits are in place for all those who are catastrophically injured in the future.

We continue to review PIPP regularly to ensure that it meets Manitobans’ needs, and remains among the most comprehensive and affordable auto-injury compensation plans in Canada.

The Corporation’s rates compare favourably with other insurance providers in Canada. In early 2010, a rate comparison study involving 10 Canadian cities showed that Manitoba Public Insurance had among the lowest insurance rates in most of the driver and vehicle profiles studied. In addition, for all profiles, rates were below the national average.

Our excellent record of rate stability is partly due to the outstanding success of the Corporation’s initiatives to curtail auto theft, including the Immobilizer Incentive Program and the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy.

The past year’s achievements are truly a team effort, and we extend our thanks and congratulations to all who have contributed, including our hard working staff and our business and community partners.

On behalf of my fellow Board members, I would also like to extend our appreciation and thanks to our outgoing chair, Shari Decter Hirst. Shari served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors from 2000 to 2009.

As we move forward, we are committed to providing our customers with the best possible combination of price, coverage, service and access.

Jake Janzen
Chairperson of the Board