Changes to the way Manitoba Public Insurance does business were introduced in the legislature on Thursday.
Justice Minister Andrew Swan, minister responsible for MPI, said a new low-cost winter tire purchase program will be rolled out in the coming months. The idea was originally introduced in the government’s 2014-15 provincial budget.
The Crown corporation will also enhance benefits for catastrophically injured people, provide temporary replacement income for temporary workers who have lost jobs because of an accident, and increase death payments to $13,154 for non-dependent children and parents of someone killed in an accident.
“Manitobans deserve and expect that their public auto insurer will be there to help them and their families in the case of injury,” Swan said. “The new rules we are proposing today will improve benefits and allow MPI to help prevent accidents and promote road safety, while keeping rates low.”
Other changes include clarifying that personal-injury coverage is not intended for vehicles such as golf carts, which can’t be registered, unless an automobile vehicle in motion is involved in the accident, as well as make it an offence to knowingly provide false or misleading information to MPI.
