No hikes for Torontonians affected by transit strike: IBC

Residents of Toronto who may be forced to drive or car-pool temporarily as a result of the possible public transit strike will not have to buy additional insurance, the Insurance Bureau of Canada says.The Toronto Transit Commission strike, which has been put off until at least Monday, pending possible resolution between the union and the TTC, may cause some city residents to have to drive temporarily, or to offer rides to co-workers. The IBC is reassuring these drivers that they will not require extra coverage. “People who have purchased insurance coverage for a vehicle they don’t usually take to work will neither require extra coverage nor risk losing coverage if they use that vehicle to get to work during the strike,” explains Mark Yakabuski, vice president, federal affairs and Ontario for the IBC. The IBC does say those people or companies who intend to use a vehicle for profit-making purposes or who will be making multiple trips as a result of the strike, should consult their agent or broker about possible implications. However, “insurers recognize these exceptional circumstances and would acknowledge that sharing the reasonable costs of temporary car pooling is not a for-profit activity,” Yakabuski adds.