ICBC outlines consequences for truckers involved in convoy
Posted February 14, 2022 6:16 pm.
Last Updated February 14, 2022 6:19 pm.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is warning commercial truck drivers participating in the Ottawa blockades that their insurance will be suspended.
“If your truck is being used in these illegal blockades, your corporate accounts will be frozen. The insurance on your vehicle will be suspended.”
According to ICBC, there is no specific insurance exclusion for political activities.
In a statement to CityNews, the crown corporation said, “All insured vehicles must be properly rated according to their use and the area in which they are garaged or operated. Failure to properly rate a vehicle can result in the loss of insurance coverage.”
.@cafreeland says commercial trucks in the blockade, will have their corp. accounts frozen/insurance on the vehicle will be suspended. However, @icbc tells me, “there is no specific insurance exclusion for political activities.” https://t.co/0f8U3CsPGu
— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) February 14, 2022
According to Freeland who is also the federal finance minister, truckers taking part in “illegal blockades” will be the ones impacted by the insurance suspension, and ICBC says criminal code offences can lead to loss of coverage.
However, ICBC says they are not aware of any open claims linked to the protest so far.
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The crown corporation also says if an insurance claim is reported, it could take months of investigation before consequences are given.
“If a claim was reported where insurance coverage may be in question, investigating and confirming an insurance breach would take some time, potentially months if criminal charges are pending.”
The announcement came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history, as a measure against convoy protests.
The Act gives the federal government the power to ban public gatherings in specific areas, take control of public services it deems necessary to deal with the situation, and issue fines and jail time to those who breach public orders.
According to Trudeau, “The blockades are harming our economy and endangering public safety. Critical supply chains have been disrupted. This is hurting workers who rely on these jobs to feed their families.”
