Insurance watchdog hopes work will continue under Liberals - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 15, 2024, 01:41 PM | Calgary | -0.7°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
New Brunswick

Insurance watchdog hopes work will continue under Liberals

New Brunswick's insurance watchdog hopes to be able to continue his work under the new Liberal government and has the support of at least one cabinet minister.

Consumer Advocate for Insurance Ronald Godin says Tories planned to close Bathurst office in December

New Brunswicks Consumer Advocate for Insurance Ronald Godin estimates his office handles up to 1,500 consumer complaints every year. (CBC)

New Brunswick's insurance watchdog says he is hoping to be able to continue his work under the new Liberal government.

The formergovernment said in April the insurance advocate's position was under review.

Consumer Advocate for InsuranceRonaldGodinsays he was told outright hisBathurstoffice would be closed when his term ends in December.

"Insurance issues would be part of the new Financial and Consumer Services Commission,the new commission that has been set up and operates out of Saint John, with a sub-office in Fredericton,"Godinsaid.

Then-justice minister TroyLiffordtold CBC Newsthe closure wasn't official,but that it was under review.

Godin, who started in 2005 in the wake of the auto insurance crisis,estimates his office handles up to 1,500 consumer complaints every year.

Decision by Dec. 30

Several LiberalMLAsin theBathurstregion are lobbying to keep the office in place.

"We want that office to stay in Bathurst because the thing we're scared of right nowit's the house, the residence, the price of the insurance that Ihope not,but we're expecting it will raise during the next coming years," said Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore MLADenis Landry.

He says the consumer advocate was an issue often brought up during his campaign door-to-door this fall.

The four well-paidfull-time jobs and one part-time positionwould also be a hard loss for the community, said Landry, who is also the minister of human resources and natural resources.

"I brought that to the premier's office and my colleagues are aware of that and we'll have to take a decision before the 30th of December."

In the meantime, the possible closure is top-of-mind for staff, said SandraGodin, the assistant consumer advocate.

"It's a big weight on our shoulders. The morale,well,we're a good staff, wetry to keep the morale up, but we talk about it every day," she said.