The Manitoba provincial government says changes are likely on the way but it can't be soon enough, and why - oh why - I ask, are we doing things like this in the first place?
I'm not 100 per cent sure how things work in Saskatchewan, but at the present time in Manitoba if a car thief steals your car and smashes it up, not only are you on the hook for the deductible, but if injured, the thief rakes in compensation compliments of you guessed it, Canadian taxpayers.
Oh the joys of "no fault" insurance.
According to a recent CTV story, one car thief says he received a lump sum payment of between $30,000 and $60,000 after smashing up a stolen car and the story also noted how taxpayers have been picking up the tab for car thieves' families to be flown in to be by their side in the hospital if needed. That's not all... on the chance the thief dies in the accident... yes, taxpayers also foot the bill for compensation to the families for that too.
Hmmm...
In the last five years in fact, Manitoba insurance says it has paid eight convicted car thieves more than $41,000. I'd say that's a low ball number given the figures just mentioned for one thief alone. And this is just talking about one province.
It's not a monumental amount, but what kind of message are we sending? And people wonder why Winnipeg has been dubbed "car thief capital" of Canada?
"It sends a horrible message to taxpayers. Hard-working people that are abiding by the law are having to pay for these idiots that are stealing our cars," said Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation earlier this week.
And he's right.
While the insurance outlets might be trying to act in fairness, as they claim, by "not judging" and providing the same services for all, there's just something wrong with this picture. The honest Joe struggles to pay out his deductible, he likely misses work time dealing with what's happened to him, and who gets compensated? Not him, that's for sure.
Supposedly Canada is evolving into a country that's tougher on crime, but when you hear stories like this, you have to wonder if we're just talking the talk or actually learning the walk.
