BC NDP promises to freeze basic ICBC rates until spring 2030
David Eby announced in Richmond on October 8 that an NDP government would freeze basic car insurance rates for three more years, extending a run of seven straight years of frozen rates.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on globalnews.ca.
BC NDP leader David Eby promised on October 8, 2026, in Richmond that an NDP government would freeze basic ICBC car insurance rates for three years, extending them until spring 2030. Eby said drivers have benefited from seven straight years of frozen rates and he wanted to add three more years.
Global News reported the announcement. Daily Hive reported that the NDP says the average driver has saved $500 per year since the province reformed ICBC in 2021.
What each party is saying
Eby said Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson had signed a letter promising to open auto insurance to private competition. Eby said: "I know the new system is not perfect, but I can tell you this, that doubling people's insurance costs by moving to the hybrid system that the Conservatives secretly proposed to do, that's not the path forward."
Doerkson said the current no-fault Enhanced Care system has been difficult for residents, particularly those with serious injuries. He said: "Everything's on the table, including opening auto insurance to private competition," and proposed bringing back limits on minor-injury claims. Doerkson said a Conservative government would pass new legislation within one year.
The dispute over the Conservative letter
Earlier in the campaign, a letter Doerkson had sent to private insurance interests became public. The letter pledged legislation to replace the no-fault model. Doerkson did not deny sending the letter but had not made its full contents public.
What voters can do
Drivers in every district will be affected by either party's insurance policy. You can read more about each party at BC NDP and compare what they are promising. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21, and voting day is October 24.
David Eby is the BC NDP leader, running in Vancouver-Point Grey. Lorne Doerkson is the interim BC Conservative leader.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC NDP promise about car insurance rates?
BC NDP leader David Eby announced on October 8, 2026, in Richmond that an NDP government would freeze basic ICBC car insurance rates for three years, extending them until spring 2030. Eby said drivers had already benefited from seven straight years of frozen rates, and that the NDP commitment would add three more years to that run. The savings Eby cited were an average of $500 per driver per year since the province reformed ICBC.
What is the BC Conservative plan for car insurance?
Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson said his government would pass legislation within one year to change the current ICBC no-fault Enhanced Care model. Doerkson stated that 'everything's on the table, including opening auto insurance to private competition' and said he wanted to bring back limits on minor-injury claims. He said the current model has been difficult for people with serious injuries who lost the right to sue. Doerkson did not commit to a specific rate promise for drivers.
What is the ICBC Enhanced Care model?
The Enhanced Care model is the BC government's no-fault car insurance system, introduced by the NDP in 2021. Under it, every driver gets care benefits after an accident regardless of who was at fault, but drivers lost the right to sue for damages. The NDP says the model has kept rates stable. Critics, including the BC Conservatives, say the model does not adequately support people with catastrophic injuries.
What did Eby say about the Conservative insurance plan?
Eby said that Conservative leader Doerkson had signed a letter promising to replace the ICBC system and open auto insurance to private competition. Eby warned that doing so would push up premiums, saying premiums in Alberta 'have surged by nearly 70 per cent' under private competition and that BC drivers 'pay twice as much' less than in Alberta. The letter Eby referenced was not published in full in the articles reviewed.
How much have ICBC rates changed in recent years?
The NDP says basic ICBC rates have been frozen for seven straight years before this announcement, and that drivers save an average of $500 per year compared to before the 2021 reform. These figures are the NDP's own stated numbers from the October 8 campaign announcement. Independent audits of ICBC's financials are separate from this campaign claim.
What does this mean for my car insurance bill?
If the BC NDP wins the October 24 election, they have promised that your basic ICBC rate will stay frozen until spring 2030. If the BC Conservatives win, their leader has said the no-fault model would be replaced by legislation within one year, with the possibility of private competition, but has not stated what rates drivers would pay. The actual rate you pay also depends on your coverage level, driving record, and vehicle type, not just the party policy.
Where can I read each party's car insurance plan?
The BC NDP and BC Conservative parties have each published platform materials on their websites. You can also compare party positions at voche.me. The candidates for your district, including their party pages, are listed at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates. The October 24 advance voting period runs October 16 to 21.
Has this ICBC rate dispute come up before in the campaign?
Yes. Earlier in the campaign, reporting surfaced a letter Doerkson had sent pledging to change the no-fault model. The NDP used that letter to argue the Conservatives had a hidden plan to open insurance to private competition. Doerkson did not deny sending the letter but said he had not made the full contents public. This announcement on October 8 is the NDP's formal counter-promise on the same issue.
Sources
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