Manitoba Public Insurance 2007 Annual Report

George Klassen in front of Winkler Claim Centre

George Klassen, Chair of the Board of the Winkler Community Development Corporation and General Manager of Winkler Consumers Co-op

Complete Coverage always within your reach

“Wow – have we ever appreciated the changes at the Winkler Claims Centre since they converted to the full-service concept. For many in the community it is a service that has saved them both time and expense. At the Co-op, we used to take our specialized commercial vehicles to Winnipeg to get them licensed, but now we can do it right in Winkler. My personal experience has been that the staff have an excellent attitude. If they don’t have the answer, they get it. We’ve been happy with the service.” -- George Klassen

REACHING OUT to more communities

This year we launched a new service model and capital improvement plan that will provide more locations for claims and driver testing services. By improving access to these services, we’re building on the convenient renewal system introduced in 2006.

More services at each location

In 2007 we began the next phase of service delivery improvements – the conversion of our existing claims centres into full-service facilities. The new model will double the number of locations for services like driver testing, bringing more full-time services within reach of more rural communities. Over the next two years, all of the corporation’s claims centres will evolve to this model.

The concept was piloted successfully at the Winkler claims centre in 2007. As a result, customers in the region can now book driver testing appointments five days a week, all through the year, instead of having to wait for mobile testing units, which may only visit their communities a few days a month. They can also conduct a number of transactions during one convenient visit, including vision screening and commercial vehicle registration, as well as the usual estimating and claims adjustment services.

The service centre model builds on progress we made in 2006, when we made it possible for customers everywhere in Manitoba to renew both their insurance and their driver’s licences with one trip to any of the more than 300 brokers across the province.

The conversion of claims centres to full-service centres will continue in Brandon in 2008, and roll out in Winnipeg in 2009.

Coming soon: New locations to serve you

As the new full-service model was being piloted in Winkler, Manitoba Public Insurance was finalizing another major service improvement plan – the construction of three new facilities in Winnipeg and one in Selkirk.

The new centres will be built in communities where demand for customer service is expected to grow. With the help of independent consultants, we determined that the demand for additional service will be highest in northeast Winnipeg and south Winnipeg, which have no claims centres today, and in central Winnipeg, where the busiest claims centre in the city has no room to grow.

As a result, the corporation will build two new locations in the northeast and south areas and replace the central claims centre with a new 28,000 square-foot facility farther north. We also plan to expand the Selkirk centre at a new convenient location within the next two years.

The expansion will increase the number of claims service outlets from 17 to 19. All of these facilities will also offer driver testing and other services.

All four of the new developments will be built to high environmental standards, minimizing the impact on our water and air. The new projects build on the success of our state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facilities in Beausejour and Winkler, constructed almost four years ago. Those buildings have geothermal heating and cooling systems, and many other high-performance features.

Proposed Site Plan

...Lending a hand after the storm