Winter tire insurance discount promised for Jan. 1 in Ontario

Ontario drivers withwinter tires on their vehicles have been promised an insurance discount starting in January, according to Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

Effective January 1, 2016, the government will require all private insurers to offer discounts to people who buyand install winter tires, the Ministry of Financesaid in a release.

The announcement today reflects a planoriginallyintroduced in the provincial budget in April.

Winter tires "enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of collisions by improving traction, braking and handling in frost, snow, slush and under cold and icy conditions," the release stated.

The provincial government has been under fire for not meeting its pledge to reduce auto insurance rates by 15 per cent this fall.

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Earlier this month, Sousanamed former WSIBheadDavid Marshall as an auto insurance adviser"to identify additional opportunities for auto insurance reform," according to agovernment release.