Source: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96228_01
Timestamp: 2017-04-25 04:45:40
Document Index: 527364817

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'arts 4']

Insurance Corporation ActSearch Results | Clear Search | Previous (in doc) | Next (in doc) | Prev Doc | Next DocCopyright (c) Queen's Printer,	Victoria, British Columbia, CanadaLicenseDisclaimerThis Act has "Not in Force" sections. See the	Table of	Legislative Changes.Insurance Corporation Act[RSBC 1996] CHAPTER
228Contents 1DefinitionsPart 1 — Operation of Corporation 2Corporation continued 3Directors 4President, general manager and staff 4.1Joint management agreement 5Transferred employees' pensions and benefits 6Head office and branch offices 7Objects, power and capacity 8Special authorization 8.1Records and proof 8.2Corporation to maintain accounts 8.3Directors to account for income and expenditures 8.4Reserve 9Additional powers 9.1Costs incurred for damaged vehicle 9.2Appointment of agents 10Contracts 11Signatures 12Corporation as agent 13Corporation an agent of the government 14Grants in place of taxes 15Temporary borrowing and guarantee of government 16Advances from consolidated revenue fund 17Corporation's costs for services under other enactments 18Borrowing power 19Form, etc., of securities 20Government guarantee 21Money of corporation 22Money in safekeeping 22.1Fiscal year of corporation 23Reports 24Report to superintendent 25Inspection by Comptroller General 26Disposition of surplus 27Additional reports 28Excess of liabilities 29Investments 30Limitation of actions 31Requirement to insure with corporation 32Permission to insure with corporation 33Mortgagor's rights 34Information 35Education and research 36Repealed 37Agreements 38Initial advance 39Application of the Financial Institutions Act 40Application of the Business Corporations Act 41Power to make regulations 42Transition for Traffic Victims Indemnity FundPart 2 — Regulation of the Corporation Division 1 — Interpretation 43Interpretation Division 2 — Role of the British Columbia Utilities Commission 44Utilities Commission Act to apply 45Regulation of universal compulsory vehicle insurance 46Reserve funds 47Commission subject to direction 48Limitation Division 3 — Competition Regulation 49Separation of businessesDefinitions1 In this Act:"adjuster" and "agent" have the meaning, except in section 12, given them in the Financial Institutions Act;"board" means the board of directors of the
corporation;"commission" means the British Columbia Utilities Commission
continued under section 2 of the Utilities Commission Act;"contract" means, except in sections 10 and 11, a contract of insurance and includes a policy, certificate, interim receipt, renewal receipt or writing
evidencing the contract, whether sealed or not, and also includes a binding oral
agreement;"corporation" means the Insurance Corporation of British
Columbia;"general manager" means the corporation's general
manager;"insurance" means the undertaking by one person to indemnify
another person against loss or liability for loss for a certain risk or peril to which the
object of the insurance may be exposed, or to pay a sum of money or other thing of value
on the happening of a certain event;"MCT guideline" means the Guideline for Minimum Capital Test
(MCT) for Federally Regulated Property and Casualty Insurance Companies issued by the
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada as that guideline is amended
or replaced from time to time;"municipality" includes a regional district;"optional vehicle insurance" means vehicle insurance other than
universal compulsory vehicle insurance under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act;"policy" means the document evidencing a contract and includes
a certificate of membership relating in any way to insurance;"president" means the president of the corporation;"superintendent" means the Superintendent of Financial
Institutions under the Financial Institutions Act;"universal compulsory vehicle insurance" has the same meaning as in the Insurance (Vehicle) Act.Part 1 — Operation of CorporationCorporation continued2 (1) The corporation known as the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is continued.(2) The corporation consists of at least 3 members appointed by the Lieutenant
Governor in Council.(3) [Repealed 2001-31-2.](4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint a person to be a member to serve
the unexpired term of a member who dies or resigns.Directors3 (1) The members appointed under section 2, during the term of their respective
appointments, are the directors of the corporation.(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council must designate a director as chair of the
board.(3) A director is entitled to be reimbursed by the corporation for reasonable
travelling and other out of pocket expenses necessarily incurred by the director in
discharging his or her duties.(4) In addition, a director, other than the general manager, may, subject to
(6), be paid and may accept as remuneration for the director's services the
daily or periodic amounts set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.(5) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum at a meeting of the directors or
of the corporation.(6) Despite the Constitution Act, a director who is a member of the Legislative Assembly(a)
may accept payments under subsections (3) and (4), and(b)
does not become ineligible as a member of the Legislative Assembly and is not
disqualified to sit and vote in the Assembly because the member accepts payments under
(3) and (4).(7) Despite the Public Service Act, a public officer may accept payments under subsections (3) and (4).President, general manager and staff4 (1) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the directors
must appoint a president and a general manager to hold office during pleasure and,
despite any Act, the directors must set their salary.(2) The directors must define the duties of the president and general
manager.(3) Despite the Public Service Act, the directors or, if authorized by the directors, the president or the general manager, may do the
appoint the officers and employees they consider necessary to carry on the
corporation's business;(b)
determine their duties and remuneration;(c)
provide a system of organization to fix responsibility and promote
efficiency.(4) The Public Service Act does not apply to the officers and employees of the corporation.(5) [Repealed 1999-44-63.](6) The corporation may, alone or in cooperation with other corporations,
ministries, commissions or other agents of the government, establish, support or
participate in one or more of a pension or a group insurance plan for the benefit of its
officers and employees and their dependants.(7) Despite this or any other Act the establishment or support of, or participation
in, a pension plan referred to in subsection (6) must not be the subject of a collective
agreement between the corporation and its employees.(8) The corporation may require a bond under the Bonding Act from the officers and employees it may designate.Joint management agreement4.1 (1) In this section:"agreement" means the joint management agreement referred to
(2);"pension fund" means the trust fund established under the
pension plan;"pension plan" means the Retirement Plan for Employees of the
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.(2) Despite section 4 (7), the corporation may enter into a joint management agreement
with the trade unions that represent its employees for the joint trusteeship of all or
part of the pension plan and pension fund, or for any other matter relating to the
pension plan or pension fund on which agreement is reached.(3) The corporation and the trade unions must establish appropriate mechanisms
whereby the views and interests of the corporation's non-unionized employees and
retirees are fairly represented in the negotiation of the agreement.(4) The agreement must not require any change to the pension plan or pension fund
that would render the pension plan ineligible for registration under the Pension Benefits Standards Act or the Income Tax Act (Canada).(5) When the agreement is entered into, the corporation must adopt those plan rules and other instruments that are necessary to amend and continue the pension plan and
pension fund in accordance with the agreement and, thereafter, the pension plan and
pension fund(a)
must be administered as provided by the agreement,(b)
may be amended as provided by the agreement, and(c)
are not subject to section 4 of this Act.(6) Despite subsection (2), the non-unionized employees and the retirees of the
corporation not represented by the trade unions may benefit from and be made subject to
the agreement, and the corporation and the trade union representatives have the power to
enter into the agreement on behalf of those persons and, if entered into, the agreement
is binding on those persons.Transferred employees' pensions and benefits5 (1) Despite section 4 (4), the Public Service Pension Plan, continued under the
Public Sector Pension Plans Act, applies to persons who, immediately before any transfer date that the Lieutenant Governor in Council may
set by order, are employees of the government, within the motor vehicle branch, and
are designated by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council as persons
carrying out functions under this Act that on and after the transfer date are to be
carried out by the corporation,(b)
elect to become employees of the corporation, and(c)
on the relevant transfer date set under this section, begin employment as
employees of the corporation.(2) The Public Service Pension Plan applies to the corporation in its capacity as
the employer of the persons to whom that plan applies under this section.(3) The corporation must pay to the trustee of the pension fund under the Public
Service Pension Plan the employer's contributions in amounts equivalent to the amounts
required under that plan.(4) Until, but not after, the end of the day on a date to be set by order of the
minister responsible for the administration of the Transportation Act, the Public Service Benefit Plan Act applies to the employees of the corporation to whom the
Public Service Pension Plan applies under this section.(5) The discretion under this section to set a transfer date or to make a
designation referred to in subsection (1) (a) may be exercised from time to time
as the occasion requires.Head office and branch offices6 (1) The corporation's head office is to be at the place designated by
regulation.(2) The corporation may establish branch offices at places designated by the
directors.Objects, power and capacity7 It is the function of the corporation and it has the power and capacity to do the
subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, engage in and
carry on, inside and outside of British Columbia, the business of insurance and
reinsurance in all its classes;(b)
subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, operate and
administer plans of insurance, including universal compulsory vehicle insurance,
authorized under any other enactment;(c)
engage in and carry on the business of repairing insured property and of
salvaging and disposing by public or private sale property insured and acquired under a
contract by which the corporation may be liable as an insurer, or make agreements with
other persons for those purposes;(d)
subject to the Health Professions Act and the Hospital Act, engage in and carry on the business of providing medical and hospital services to a person insured under a contract by which
the corporation may be liable as an insurer, or make agreements with other persons for
those purposes;(e)
for its own use and benefit, acquire or expropriate, and hold or take options on
land required for its business, conveyed, mortgaged or hypothecated to it by way of
security, acquired as an investment, or conveyed to it in full or partial satisfaction
for debts and judgments, and may dispose of the whole or part of the land;(f)
acquire some or all of the shares or business and property of an insurer, agent,
adjuster or motor vehicle repairer, or make an agreement to carry on jointly a class of
insurance with another insurer, inside or outside of British Columbia, and the Insurance Act and the Financial Institutions Act do not apply to the agreement;(g)
carry out any powers, duties and functions in relation to the Motor Vehicle Act, the Commercial Transport Act or the Off-Road Vehicle Act, or to any program of the government or of an agency of the government, that may be authorized under the Motor Vehicle Act, the Commercial Transport Act, the Off-Road Vehicle Act or another enactment respecting motor vehicles or vehicles, or that may be assumed by the corporation by agreement with the government or an agency
of the government;(h)
receive, hold, manage and collect, for and on behalf of the
government,(i) revenue from fines in connection with violation tickets under the Offence Act, for contravention of enactments referred to in the regulations under that Act, including revenue from fines imposed by the
Provincial Court for contraventions for which violation tickets have been
issued,(ii) revenue from a monetary penalty imposed under section 215.44 of the Motor Vehicle Act and revenue from licence, permit and other fees under the Motor Vehicle Act, the Commercial Transport Act, the Off-Road Vehicle Act or another enactment respecting motor vehicles or vehicles,(iii) revenue from fees collected under the Medicare Protection Act, and(iv) revenue from taxes imposed under the Provincial Sales Tax Act;(i)
promote and improve highway safety.Special authorization8 (1) Despite section 7, the corporation may carry on business as insurer in those
classes of insurance and reinsurance only as are designated by regulation.(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations authorizing the
corporation to engage in and carry on any class of insurance as defined under the
Financial Institutions Act, or any insurance plan and the regulations may provide that some provisions of this Act or the regulations do not
apply to a particular class of insurance or insurance plan carried on under this
section.(3) On being authorized by regulation, the corporation has the right to engage in
and carry on, in British Columbia, the class of insurance or the insurance plan so
authorized without further authority than this Act and the regulations, as fully as if
authorized to carry on insurance business under the Financial Institutions Act.Records and proof8.1 (1) If a record is kept by the corporation under this Act or the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, the corporation may(a)	have the record photocopied,(b)
have the record or its contents stored in electronic format,(c)
have the record or its contents reproduced on a record that enables the
information to be subsequently displayed or immediately accessible in visible form,
keep the record or its contents in any other prescribed manner.(2) If information from a record to be kept by the corporation is converted into
another format under subsection (1), the corporation may destroy the paper
format of the record and the information, in the format into which it has been
converted, is deemed to be the record so converted.(3) If records are kept by the corporation otherwise than in paper format, the
corporation must provide, in intelligible form, any copy of those records that, under
this Act or the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, the corporation is required to provide.(4) A copy of, or extract from, a record kept in a format other than an electronic
format by the corporation under this Act or the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, certified to be a true copy or extract by an officer of the
corporation, is(a)
evidence of the record or of the part of the record extracted and of the facts
stated in the record or the part of the record, and(b)
conclusive proof that the corporation is the keeper of the record, in
fulfillment of the corporation's responsibility under this section.(5) A reproduction in paper format of a record kept in electronic format by the
corporation is evidence of the record and of the facts stated in the record, and is
conclusive proof that the corporation is the keeper of the record, in fulfillment of the
corporation's responsibility under this section, if(a)
the reproduction is certified to be a true copy by an officer of the
corporation, or(b)
the reproduction contains a statement to the effect that the reproduction is
an authentic reproduction of information stored in a database in electronic format by
the corporation.(6) A record of information, based on the records kept by the corporation under this
Act or the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, is evidence of the facts contained in the record if(a)
the information is contained in a certificate of an officer of the
the records contains a statement to the effect that the record is an authentic
reproduction of information stored in a database in electronic format by the
corporation.(7) Proof is not required of the signature or official position of a person
certifying the truth of a copy or extract, or giving a certificate under this section,
and a facsimile signature purporting to be the signature of a person required to sign or
certify a record under this Act or the Insurance (Vehicle) Act is evidence of the signature and of the authority for the
use of the facsimile signature.(8) A certificate or other record referred to in subsection (4), (5)
or (6) must be received in all courts for the purposes of those subsections
without proof that the certificate or other record was kept or provided with lawful
authority.(9) This section is in addition to and not in substitution for any provision of this
or any other enactment respecting the retention, certification or use of records by the
corporation including, without limitation, any provision that(a)
allows the corporation to retain records in any format,(b)
allows for certification of records by the corporation in any manner,
allows any record to stand as evidence of any fact or matter.Corporation to maintain accounts8.2 The corporation must keep and maintain separate and distinct accounts in which it
must record(a)
all money paid to the corporation for premiums and all other money, including
investment income, paid to the corporation for the purposes of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, and(b)	all payments by the corporation of benefits, insurance money, damages,
compensation, costs and capital expenditures and operating expenses for the purposes of
the Insurance (Vehicle) Act.Directors to account for income and expenditures8.3 If the corporation receives income, including investment income, or if the corporation makes an expenditure partly for the purpose of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act and partly for another business or purpose of the corporation,
the directors must apportion and account for that income and expenditure
accordingly.Reserve8.4 Subject to the regulations, including, without limitation, orders of the
Lieutenant Governor in Council under section 26, and any orders of the commission under
46, the corporation must maintain for the purposes of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act reserves in amounts the corporation considers
advisable in the interest of owners of vehicles and drivers of vehicles, and in the
interest of good management of the business of vehicle insurance, so that the corporation
has at all times sufficient funds to meet the payments under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act as they become payable.Additional powers9 (1) The corporation may do all acts and things necessary or required for the purpose
of carrying out its functions and powers, and, for that purpose, has all of the powers
and capacity of an individual of full capacity.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the corporation may do any of the
conduct surveys and research programs and obtain statistics for its purposes
and to establish and administer any insurance plan;(b)
enter into an agreement with, or retain agents or adjusters to solicit and
receive applications for insurance, to collect premiums, adjust claims, and do other
things on its behalf it considers necessary;(c)
prescribe forms for application, contracts, policies and other matters it
prescribe the detail required to be set out on a form;(e)
evaluate damages and losses and pay claims under a contract by which the
corporation may be liable as an insurer;(f)
reinsure the whole or part of a contract of another insurer, and reinsure its
risks under the whole or part of a contract with another insurer, whether or not the
other insurer is inside or outside of British Columbia, or is authorized under the
Financial Institutions Act;(g)	do anything necessary to settle, adjust, investigate, defend and otherwise
deal with, under this Act, the Insurance Act or the Financial Institutions Act so far as is applicable, claims made on
contracts by which the corporation may be liable as insurer or on a plan established
under sections 7 and 8 (1);(h)
make bylaws and pass resolutions, not contrary to law or this Act, it
considers necessary or advisable for the conduct of its affairs including the time and
place of its meetings, procedure at meetings and generally the conduct of its affairs
in all ways;(i)
carry out either alone or with a board, commission, corporation, ministry or
agency of government, or a person, agency or association, a research, education,
training, competition or similar program relating to highway safety;(j)
promote or carry out programs of research into causes of accidents and the
equitable distribution of losses resulting from highway traffic accidents;(k)
establish and maintain repair shops to investigate and apply techniques used
in the repair of vehicles and to analyze the cost of repairs;(l)
negotiate with persons engaged in vehicle repairs to establish fair and
reasonable prices for vehicle repairs for which payments may be made under the
Insurance (Vehicle) Act.Costs incurred for damaged vehicle9.1 (1) If a vehicle has been damaged as a result of an accident and has been delivered into the custody of the corporation with the consent of the owner or person in charge of
the vehicle at the time of the accident or under the direction of a peace officer under
the Motor Vehicle Act,(a)	the corporation has a lien on the vehicle for the amount of the costs and
charges for removal, towing, care or storage of the vehicle unless the corporation is
responsible for payment of the amount of those costs and charges, and(b)
that amount is a debt owing by the registered owner to the
corporation.(2) The corporation may give a written notice to the registered owner of the vehicle
requiring the registered owner to(a)
pay the costs and charges referred to in subsection (1), and(b)
remove the vehicle from the place where it is stored within 7 days from the
date of receipt of the notice.(3) A notice under subsection (2) may be given by serving it personally
on the registered owner or by mailing it to the registered owner's address as shown in
the records of the corporation and, if mailed, the notice is deemed to have been
received on the eighth day after the date of mailing.(4) If the registered owner does not pay the costs and charges owing to the
corporation and remove the vehicle within 14 days after receiving a notice given under
(2), the corporation may, without further notice, offer the vehicle for
sale by public auction or tender.(5) On the sale of a vehicle under this section, the corporation may deduct all
costs and charges owing to it, including the costs of the sale, and must for 2 years
after that hold any balance in trust for the owner of the vehicle and other persons
having a registered interest in the vehicle and if the balance is unclaimed within the 2
years it becomes the property of the corporation.(6) If a vehicle offered by the corporation for sale by public auction or by tender
is not sold, the corporation is deemed to be the purchaser of it for the amount of the
costs and charges owing and the corporation may dispose of it as the corporation
considers appropriate.(7) When the corporation sells a vehicle or is deemed to be the purchaser of it by
this section, the indebtedness of the owner to the corporation for the costs and charges
referred to in subsection (5) in respect of the vehicle is extinguished.Appointment of agents9.2 (1) The corporation may, in writing, appoint agents it considers necessary for the
purposes of either or both of universal compulsory vehicle insurance and optional
vehicle insurance.(2) The corporation must not appoint an agent unless he or she holds or has applied
for a licence under the Financial Institutions Act as an insurance agent for the place specified in the appointment.(3) Despite subsection (2), for the purpose of universal compulsory vehicle insurance,
the corporation may appoint as an agent(a)
a government agent, or(b)
a person authorized in writing by the minister.(4) The provisions of the Financial Institutions Act regarding insurance agents do not apply to the persons
appointed under subsection (3) of this section.(5) An agent must not have his or her appointment in respect of universal compulsory
vehicle insurance or optional vehicle insurance terminated without just
cause.(6) Subject to any orders of the commission under this Act or the Utilities Commission Act as applied by this Act or a regulation under section 47 or 51, the corporation, after consultation
with an agent, may establish annually the commission and other remuneration to be paid
to the agent.(7) An appointment of an agent made under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act before September 27, 1977, that has not been
suspended, cancelled or revoked, and a subsisting agreement made with respect to it,
continues in force to the extent consistent with this section, until terminated by the
corporation or the agent.Contracts10 (1) A contract that, if made between natural persons would be by law required to be
in writing and under seal, may be made on behalf of the corporation in writing under
seal and may, in the same manner, be varied or discharged.(2) A contract that, if made between natural persons would be by law required to be
in writing signed by the parties to be charged, may be made on behalf of the corporation
in writing signed by any person acting under its authority, express or implied, and may
in the same manner be varied or discharged.(3) A contract that, if made between natural persons would by law be valid although
made orally and not reduced to writing, may be made in like manner on behalf of the
corporation by any person acting under its authority, express or implied, and may in the
same manner be varied or discharged.(4) All contracts made according to this section are effectual in law, and bind the
corporation and its successors and all other parties to them.(5) A bill of exchange or promissory note is deemed to have been made, accepted or
endorsed on behalf of the corporation if made, accepted or endorsed in the name of, on
behalf of or on account of, the corporation by any person acting under its
authority.Signatures11 (1) A director or the general manager sufficiently signs a document on behalf of the
corporation if his or her signature is written on the document.(2) If a document relating to the corporation's business bears a signature and if
required, a countersignature, purporting to be that of a director, general manager,
officer or an authorized person, the document is deemed to be validly made and the
signature, countersignature and seal, if any, deemed to be validly signed and sealed by
persons authorized by the corporation.(3) It is not necessary to prove the seal of the corporation, the handwriting or the
authority of the person signing, sealing or countersigning the document, or, in the case
of a document signed under subsection (1), authenticity of the facsimile of the
signature of a director or the general manager.Corporation as agent12 (1) The corporation, its officers or full time salaried employees may, for this Act,
act as an agent or adjuster.(2) The Financial Institutions Act does not apply to such an agent or adjuster.Corporation an agent of the government13 (1) All property and money acquired or administered by the corporation is deemed to
be the property of the government for all purposes, including exemption from
taxation.(2) The corporation is an agent of the government.(3) Money, funds, investments and property acquired or administered by the
corporation may not be taken, used or appropriated by the government for any purpose
whatever, except under subsection (5), section 26 (2) or to repay
advances by or money borrowed from the government and the interest on it.(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to the revenue referred to in section 7 (h)
that is received by the corporation.(5) The corporation must pay to the government any tax or impost that, but for
(3), would be assessed or levied against the corporation, its business or
property under any other Act, except income tax under the Income Tax Act.Grants in place of taxes14 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, direct the corporation to pay
grants of money to a municipality in which property of the corporation is
located.Temporary borrowing and guarantee of government15 (1) Subject to any restriction placed by order of the Lieutenant Governor in
Council, the corporation may borrow or raise money for its temporary purposes by way of
overdraft, line of credit, loan or otherwise, on the credit of the corporation for the
amounts, terms and periods determined by the corporation.(2) The government may, on terms that may be approved by the Lieutenant Governor in
Council, guarantee payment of the principal and interest on the borrowing of the
corporation.Advances from consolidated revenue fund16 To the extent permitted by any Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may
authorize the Minister of Finance to advance money to the corporation for its temporary
purposes out of the consolidated revenue fund, to be repaid on terms approved by the
Lieutenant Governor in Council.Corporation's costs for services under other enactments17 (1) Despite the Financial Administration Act, the corporation may retain, out of the revenue referred to in section 7 (h) of this Act that is
received by the corporation, the corporation's permitted costs of its services
receiving, holding, managing, collecting and accounting for the revenue,
carrying out its powers, duties and functions referred to in section 7
(g) of this Act.(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Treasury Board must prescribe the
corporation's permitted costs of its services.Borrowing power18 (1) Subject to the prior approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and to
(2), the corporation, as agent of the government, may, for its purposes,
raise money in lawful money of Canada by way of loan on the credit of the
corporation.(2) Through the Minister of Finance as its agent for the purpose of this section or
section 15 or 16, the corporation may do any of the following:(a)
issue notes, bonds, debentures or other securities of the
corporation;(b)
dispose of the securities so issued at the prices considered
mortgage or pledge its property;(d)
raise money by way of loan on the securities.Form, etc., of securities19 (1) The notes, bonds, debentures and other securities issued under section 18
must be in the form, bear the rate of interest and be payable or redeemable in advance
of maturity, for principal, interest and premium, in the currencies of the countries, in
the amount or price, in the manner, and at the times, as the Lieutenant Governor in
Council may determine.(2) The notes, bonds, debentures and other securities authorized by section 18 must
bear the seal of the corporation, which may be impressed or engraved, or otherwise
mechanically reproduced on them and, together with any coupons attached, must bear the
manual, engraved or otherwise mechanically reproduced signatures of the chair and of the
secretary of the corporation.(3) A mechanically reproduced seal or signature is, for all purposes, valid and
binding on the corporation if the note, bond, debenture or other security or the coupon
bearing it is countersigned by an officer appointed by the corporation for that
purpose,(a)
even though the person whose signature is reproduced may not have held office
at the date of the security or of its delivery, and(b)
even though the person who holds the office at the time when the signature is
affixed is not the person who holds that office at the date of the security or of its
delivery.(4) A recital or declaration in a resolution or minutes of the corporation
authorizing the issue or sale of notes, bonds, debentures or other securities to the
effect that the amount of securities so authorized is necessary to realize the net sum
authorized or required to be raised is conclusive evidence of that fact.Government guarantee20 (1) The government may, on terms as may be approved by the Lieutenant Governor in
Council, guarantee the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, of any notes,
bonds, debentures and other securities issued by the corporation.(2) The guarantee must be in a form and manner the Lieutenant Governor in Council
may approve.(3) The guarantee must be signed by the Minister of Finance or an officer designated
by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.(4) On the guarantee being signed, the government is liable for the payment of the
principal, interest and premium, if any, of the notes, bonds, debentures and securities
guaranteed, to the extent of the guarantee.(5) In the hands of a holder of any such security of the corporation, a guarantee so
signed is conclusive evidence that this section has been complied with.(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may discharge any liability resulting from
the guarantee out of(a)
the consolidated revenue fund, or(b)
the proceeds of securities of the government issued and sold for the
purpose.(7) The signature of the Minister of Finance or a designated officer may be engraved
or otherwise mechanically reproduced.(8) The mechanically reproduced signature is for all purposes the signature of that
person and is binding on the government,(a)
delivery.Money of corporation21 (1) Money required by any Act or regulations to be paid to the corporation, premiums
and other consideration payable for insurance provided by the corporation, and any other
money that may be due and payable to the corporation must be paid to the corporation,
and may be retained by it to be used and dealt with only to carry out the powers of the
corporation under this or any other Act.(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, direct the Minister of Finance
to pay to the corporation for the purposes of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, out of the consolidated revenue fund, the amounts
considered advisable but not to exceed the equivalent of(a)
a tax of 2.2¢/litre on each litre of fuel taxable under the Motor Fuel Tax Act, and(b)
the portion considered advisable, of the fees payable under the Motor Vehicle Act, Commercial Transport Act and Passenger Transportation Act.Money in safekeeping22 The corporation's uninvested money and securities held by it must be kept for
safekeeping in the banks or institutions determined by the directors.Fiscal year of corporation22.1 (1) For fiscal years of the corporation that begin after 2016, the fiscal year of the corporation is the period from April 1 in one year to March 31 in the next year.(2) The fiscal year of the corporation that began on January 1, 2016 ends on March 31, 2017.Reports23 (1) The corporation must prepare and provide to the minister by the date required by the minister, for the
preceding fiscal year,(a)
a report of the corporation on its operations,(b)
a financial statement showing the corporation's operations, as well as its
assets and liabilities at the end of the year in the form that may be required by the
Minister of Finance, and(c)
if the corporation is engaged in the business of optional vehicle
insurance,(i) a report, prepared by an actuary who is not an employee of the corporation,
as to whether the corporation's optional vehicle insurance policy liabilities and
universal compulsory vehicle insurance policy liabilities have been valued in
accordance with accepted actuarial practices, and(ii) a report, prepared by an accountant who is not an employee of the
corporation, as to whether(A) the corporation's optional vehicle insurance costs have been attributed to
optional vehicle insurance in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and in compliance with section 49 (1) and any
orders made under section 49 (2), and(B) the corporation's universal compulsory vehicle insurance costs and its
non-insurance costs related to driver and vehicle licensing and road safety have
been attributed to universal compulsory vehicle insurance in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and in compliance with section 49
(1) and any orders made under section 49 (2).(2) Unless the Auditor General is appointed in accordance with the Auditor General Act as the auditor of the corporation, the Lieutenant
Governor in Council must appoint an auditor(a)
to audit the accounts of the corporation for each fiscal year of the corporation,
to report to the minister on the annual financial statement.(3) On or before August 31 after the end of the preceding fiscal year of the corporation, the minister must either, as applicable,(a)
lay the reports and financial statement received by the minister under subsection (1) before the Legislative Assembly, if it is in session, or(b)
file the reports and financial statement with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, if the Legislative Assembly is not in session.(4) The financial statement referred to in subsection (1) must be prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.(5) If the corporation is engaged in the business of optional vehicle insurance, the
financial statement referred to in subsection (1) must include the following:(a)
a financial statement for the optional vehicle insurance operations of the
a financial statement for the remainder of the operations of the
corporation.Report to superintendent24 (1) The corporation must file with the superintendent each year an annual report on
its condition and affairs for its immediately preceding fiscal year.(2) The report must be prepared in a manner determined by the superintendent and
filed within 30 days after the date on which the financial statement for the
corresponding fiscal year is laid before the Legislative Assembly or filed with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly under section 23.Inspection by Comptroller General25 (1) The Comptroller General must, as often as he or she considers advisable, inspect
the records of the corporation to satisfy himself or herself that revenues collected by
the corporation on behalf of the government have been accurately recorded and remitted
promptly to the Minister of Finance.(2) The Minister of Finance may at any time direct the Comptroller General to
examine and report to the Treasury Board on the financial or accounting operations of
the corporation.Disposition of surplus26 (1) In this section:"capital available" means capital available as that term is
described in the MCT guideline;"capital required" means capital required as that term is
described in the MCT guideline;"management target" means,(a)
subject to paragraph (b), the ratio that reflects the total of(i) the supervisory target as set out in the MCT guideline, and(ii) the margin, determined by the corporation's actuary and validated by the independent actuary appointed by the board of the corporation, that(A) reflects the corporation's risk profile in relation to the corporation's optional vehicle insurance business and its ability to respond to adverse events that arise from those risks, and(B) has been determined in accordance with(I) the MCT guideline, and(II) the Guideline on Stress Testing issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada as it is amended or replaced from time to time, and(b)
if a ratio is set under subsection (1.1), the lesser of the ratio determined under paragraph (a) of this definition and the ratio set under subsection (1.1);"optional capital available" means the capital available in
relation to the corporation's optional vehicle insurance business;"optional capital required" means the capital required in
relation to the corporation's optional vehicle insurance business;"Treasury Board" has the same meaning as in the Financial Administration Act.(1.1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, set a ratio for the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of "management target" in subsection (1).(2) Subject to subsection (3) and despite any other enactment, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, direct the corporation to make payments to
the government at such times, in such amounts or circumstances, on such bases and in
such manners as the Lieutenant Governor in Council may order and to record the required
payments as liabilities in the corporation's financial statements.(3) The corporation must, in relation to each payment it is directed to make under
(2), comply with that direction as follows:(a)
the payment must be paid out of the optional capital available;(b)
the payment must not result in the ratio of the corporation's optional capital
available to the corporation's optional capital required falling below the ratio that
is the management target.(4) In making an order under subsection (2), the Lieutenant Governor in Council
rely on or incorporate, with or without modification, any or all of the
provisions of any code, guideline or regulation as they may be amended or replaced
from time to time before or after the making of the order, including, without
limitation, any or all of the provisions of the Guideline on Stress Testing issued by
the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada, and(b)
allow Treasury Board to approve a deduction from the
amount that would otherwise be payable under this
section.Additional reports27 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, at any time, by order, require additional
reports the Lieutenant Governor in Council may consider necessary from the
corporation.Excess of liabilities28 If the financial statement or report referred to in section 23 (1) (a) or (b), as
the case may be, or an additional report under section 27, shows that the liabilities
exceed the assets, or indicates that the liabilities, exclusive of the liability for the
repayment of money, if any, paid to the corporation under this section or section 16 or
38, may, at any time in the coming fiscal year, exceed the assets, the Lieutenant Governor in
Council may, by order, direct that the amount or estimated amount of the excess be paid to
the corporation out of the consolidated revenue fund.Investments29 (1) The corporation must not invest or lend its funds other than in accordance with
guidelines prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.(2) The corporation may take any additional securities of any kind to secure
repayment to the corporation of any investment or loan or to further ensure the
sufficiency of the securities in which the corporation is, by this section, authorized
to invest or loan its funds.Limitation of actions30 (1) Unless a longer period is provided in the contract or insurance plan, no action
or other proceeding lies against the corporation in respect of any claim for loss or
damage under a policy or plan of insurance unless the action or other proceeding is
commenced within one year after the furnishing of reasonably sufficient proof of loss or
claim under the policy or plan.(2) No action or other proceeding lies against any person other than the corporation
for the purpose of enforcing a claim or right in relation to the operations engaged in
or carried on under this Act or any insurance plan established under any Act.(3) No action or other proceeding whatever may be commenced against a person in
respect of any act or omission done in good faith in connection with the administration
or carrying out of this Act, regulations or any insurance plan established under any
Act.Requirement to insure with corporation31 (1) If the corporation has power, under section 8, to engage in and carry
on a class of insurance or an insurance plan and the corporation establishes the class
or plan, every designated association, board, commission, municipality or other
corporation to which a grant or advance may be made, the borrowings of which may be
guaranteed by the government, or a majority of members of which are appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor in Council, must, if that class of insurance is required, apply to
the corporation for the insurance of that class it may require, and must not effect the
insurance with another insurer unless an application for the insurance is refused by the
corporation.(2) This section applies only to the associations, boards, commissions,
municipalities or other corporations designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council by
order.Permission to insure with corporation32 Subject to section 31, if, under an Act other than the Financial Institutions Act a class of insurance may be effected with an
insurer authorized to do business in British Columbia, and the corporation is carrying on
business in that class of insurance, the insurance so authorized may, despite the other
Act, be effected with the corporation.Mortgagor's rights33 (1) Despite the terms and conditions of a mortgage or agreement, a mortgagor or
purchaser may effect insurance with the corporation, whether or not the corporation is a
company approved by the mortgagee or vendor.(2) Production of a policy issued by the corporation constitutes compliance with the
terms of the mortgage or agreement respecting production of a policy of
insurance.Information34 For the purpose of evaluating the risks or class of risks that may be undertaken
by the corporation, each ministry of the government, agent of the government and
municipality must provide to the corporation, on request in writing, the reports and
information the corporation may require.Education and research35 The corporation, either alone or in cooperation with one or more ministries of
government, persons, boards, commissions or other corporations, may introduce, supervise,
finance and promote educational programs or research relating to health, rehabilitation,
safety and the reduction of risk for any branch or class of insurance in which the
corporation is engaged.Repealed36 [Repealed 2003-94-65.]Agreements37 (1) With the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the corporation may
enter into agreements with Canada or a province on any of the following:(a)
[Repealed 2003-94-65.](b)
deposit, security and undertaking required to carry on business in other
provinces;(c)
any other matter for carrying on business, or settlement of claims in other
provinces.(2) and (3) [Repealed 2003-94-65.]Initial advance38 Out of the fund of $5 million set aside by the Minister of Finance on
March 31, 1973, the Minister of Finance must make advances to the corporation under
section 16 as authorized by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.Application of the Financial Institutions
Act39 (1) Except as provided in this Act and the regulations, the Financial Institutions Act does not apply to the corporation.(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations specifying that the
corporation must comply with any or all of the provisions of(a)
the Financial Institutions Act,(b)
the regulations under the Financial Institutions Act, or(c)
similar legislation of Canada.(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, in regulations made under subsection
prescribe how the specified provisions apply and how the corporation must
comply with them, and(b)
apply different provisions, or apply provisions differently, to different
parts of the corporation's operations and different businesses operated by the
corporation.(4) In the event of a conflict between a provision specified in a regulation made
under subsection (2), or anything ordered or done under a regulation made under
subsection (2), and a provision of Part 2 of this Act, or anything ordered or done under
a provision of Part 2, the provision of Part 2 or the order or action under the
provision of Part 2 prevails.Application of the Business Corporations
Act40 (1) Except as provided in this Act, the Business Corporations Act does not apply to the corporation.(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, may, by order, direct that the Business Corporations Act, or a provision in it, applies to the corporation.Power to make regulations41 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in
section 41 of the Interpretation Act.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the manner in which records or their contents may be kept by
the corporation.Transition for Traffic Victims Indemnity Fund42 (1) The corporation has, despite the repeals effected by the Traffic Victims
Indemnity Fund Repeal Act, S.B.C. 1982, c. 30, the power and capacity to
litigate or otherwise dispose of any claim against and the duty to discharge any
liability of(a)
the Traffic Victims Indemnity Fund, and(b)
the corporationthat would otherwise be extinguished by those repeals.(2) Despite the repeals effected by the Traffic Victims Indemnity Fund
Repeal Act, S.B.C. 1982, c. 30, all liabilities of the Group Two members of
the Traffic Victims Indemnity Fund that would otherwise be extinguished by the repeals
are preserved and, subject to subsection (4), continue to exist to the same extent
as if the repeals had not been effected.(3) Nothing in subsection (1) affects or prejudices any right that
any person has or may have against the Group Two members of the Traffic Victims
Indemnity Fund.(4) Nothing in this section prevents the corporation from relying on the Limitation Act.(5) This section is retroactive to the extent necessary to give full effect to its provisions.Part 2 — Regulation of the CorporationDivision 1 — InterpretationInterpretation43 (1) [Repealed 2003-94-66.](2) In this Part, an activity has or is likely to have the effect of appreciably
impeding or reducing competition if(a)
the activity has or is likely to have a detrimental effect on existing or
potential competition, and(b)
the detrimental effect is or is likely to be large enough to be material,
even though that detrimental effect may not be large enough to constitute preventing
or lessening competition substantially within the meaning of sections 79 (1)
and 92 (1) of the Competition Act (Canada).Division 2 — Role of the British Columbia Utilities CommissionUtilities Commission Act to apply44 (1) Subject to subsections (3), (6) and (7), the Utilities Commission Act, other than sections 3, 5 (4) to (9), 22, 23 (1) (a) to (d) and (2), 25 to 38, 40, 41, 43 (1) (b) (ii), 44.1, 44.2, 45 to 57, 59 (2) and (3), 60 (1) (b) (ii) and (2) to (4), Part 3.1,
97, 98, 106 (1) (k), 107 to 109 and 114, Parts 4 and 5 and sections 125.1 and 125.2 of that Act, applies to and in respect of the corporation as if it were a public utility,
and a reference in this Part to the Utilities Commission Act or to a provision of that Act is deemed to be a reference to that Act or provision as it applies for the purposes of this Act.(2) Despite subsection (1), the corporation is not a public
utility.(3) For the purposes of subsection (1),(a)
a reference to "rate" in the Utilities Commission Act and in this Part is deemed to be a reference
to "rate", as defined in section 1 of the Utilities Commission Act, as if paragraph (a) of that definition read as follows:"(a) compensation of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, other
than any fee or other remuneration to which that corporation is entitled for any
activity it undertakes under section 7 (g), (h) or (i) of the Insurance Corporation Act,",(b)	a reference to "service" in the Utilities Commission Act is deemed to be a reference to universal
compulsory vehicle insurance, and includes(i) the corporation's practices and procedures related to universal compulsory
vehicle insurance, and(ii) the corporation's performance in providing universal compulsory vehicle
insurance to its customer base as a whole or to classes of its
customers,but does not include the corporation's provision of universal compulsory
vehicle insurance to any one customer,(c)
(1) (g) (i) of the Utilities Commission Act is deemed to read as follows:"(i) the convenience or service of the public, or", and(d)
(3) (a) of the Utilities Commission Act is deemed to read as follows:"(a) all profiles, contracts, reports of accountants, actuaries and
consultants, accounts and records in its possession or control relating in any way
to its property or service or affecting its business, or verified copies of them,
and".(4) In addition to any rights or powers that the commission may exercise under
subsection (1) of this section in relation to the corporation, the commission is to
supervise the corporation in accordance with sections 45 and 46 and Division 3
and, for that purpose, has all of the rights and powers that would be available to the
commission were that supervisory duty imposed on it under the Utilities Commission Act.(5) Despite section 11 (1) and (2) of the Utilities Commission Act, the fact that a commissioner or an employee of the
commission obtains or is otherwise covered by insurance coverage provided by the
corporation is not a contravention of the Utilities Commission Act and does not disqualify the commissioner or employee from
acting in any matter affecting the corporation.(6) Section
62 of the Utilities Commission Act does not apply to rates for optional vehicle insurance.(7) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe provisions of the Utilities Commission Act that do not apply to the corporation or to one or more of the businesses in which the corporation is
engaged.Regulation of universal compulsory vehicle insurance45 (1) If the corporation is authorized by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to
provide universal compulsory vehicle insurance, the corporation must make available
universal compulsory vehicle insurance in a manner, and in accordance with practices
and procedures, that the commission considers are in all respects adequate, efficient,
just and reasonable.(2) If the commission, after a hearing held on its own motion or on complaint,
finds that the manner in which universal compulsory vehicle insurance is provided by
the corporation does not comply with subsection (1) or that the
practices and procedures in accordance with which that insurance is provided do not
comply with subsection (1), the commission must(a)
determine the manner or the practices and procedures, as the case may be,
that comply with subsection (1), and(b)
order the corporation to comply with that manner or with those practices and
procedures.(3) After a hearing held on the commission's own motion or on complaint, the
commission may determine and set adequate, efficient, just and reasonable standards,
practices or procedures to be used by the corporation in providing universal
compulsory vehicle insurance and may order the corporation to comply with those
standards, practices or procedures.(4) The commission may, by order, require the corporation to report, at the times
and in the form ordered by the commission, on the corporation's performance in
providing universal compulsory vehicle insurance, including, without limitation, on
the corporation's performance in complying with any order made under subsection
(2) or (3).(5) The commission may exercise its powers and duties under this section in
relation to the provision by the corporation of universal compulsory vehicle insurance
to the corporation's customer base as a whole or to classes of its customers, but not
in relation to the provision by the corporation of universal compulsory vehicle
insurance to any one customer.(6) Despite this section and section 44, and despite section 110 of
the Utilities Commission Act, the commission does not have the power to change a term or condition of any plan of universal compulsory
vehicle insurance established under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act.Reserve funds46 (1) The commission may, by order, require the corporation to maintain, for the
purposes set out in section 8.4, reserves that are equal to or greater
than the reserves the corporation is required to maintain under that
section.(2) The commission must take the corporation's obligation to maintain reserves
into account in fixing rates of the corporation.Commission subject to direction47 (1) In addition to any other power the Lieutenant Governor in Council may have to
issue directions to the commission, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by
regulation, issue directions to the commission respecting the factors, criteria and
guidelines that the commission must or must not use in regulating and fixing rates for
the corporation, including, without limitation, one or more of the following
directions:(a)
establishing financial outcome targets for the corporation generally and for
its optional insurance business in particular, including targets for the
corporation's capital base, within the meaning of the Financial Institutions Act, and the corporation's profits, and
directing the commission to accommodate those targets when regulating and fixing
those rates;(b)
identifying circumstances in which the commission is and is not to regulate
and fix rates applicable to optional vehicle insurance;(c)
establishing criteria on which rates may, and must not, be based;(d)
identifying activities the corporation may or must undertake on behalf of
the government or under an enactment, and directing how those activities, and the
costs related to them, are to be treated for the purposes of regulating and fixing
rates;(e)
directing the commission to consider specified factors or criteria when
regulating and fixing rates;(f)
authorizing the commission to determine any factor or criterion the
commission considers to be relevant in relation to the regulation and fixing of
rates.(2) In addition to any other power the Lieutenant Governor in Council may have to
regulation, issue one or more of the following directions to the
commission:(a)
setting out the basis on which and the manner in which the commission is to
perform its obligations under this Part;(b)
directing the commission to require the corporation to prepare a plan, in
the manner and form, with the content and at the time or times required by the
Lieutenant Governor in Council, of the steps the corporation will take to meet the
financial outcome targets referred to in subsection (1)
directing or authorizing the commission to approve and monitor compliance
with the plan referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection;(d)
identifying activities the corporation must undertake on behalf of the
government and(i) establishing requirements as to the manner in which and the practices and
procedures in accordance with which those activities are to be undertaken,
and(ii) providing direction to the commission as to how it should regulate those
activities to ensure that they are undertaken in accordance with the requirements
established under subparagraph (i).(3) The commission must comply with any direction issued under subsection
(1) or (2) despite(a)
any other provisions of the Insurance Corporation Act or the Utilities Commission Act, or(b)
any previous decision of the commission.(4) The powers of the Lieutenant Governor in Council under subsection
(1) include the power, by regulation, to issue directions that apply,
rely on or incorporate, with or without modification, any or all of the provisions of
any code, guideline or regulation as they may be amended or replaced from time to time
before or after the making of the Lieutenant Governor in Council's regulation,
including, without limitation, any or all of the provisions of the MCT guideline.
Limitation48 Nothing in this Part or in the Utilities Commission Act gives to the commission the right or power to alter or
affect any rights, remedies or entitlements that may exist at law with respect to
compensation for injury or death, or loss or damage to property, that arises out of the
use or operation of a vehicle.Division 3 — Competition RegulationSeparation of businesses49 (1) The commission must ensure that the universal compulsory vehicle insurance
business and the revenue of the corporation, other than revenue from the corporation's
optional vehicle insurance business, are not used to subsidize the corporation's
optional vehicle insurance business.(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the commission may issue any orders
it considers necessary to ensure that the corporation's optional vehicle insurance
business and activities are segregated from the corporation's other businesses and
activities for accounting purposes, and that, in addition, any other businesses and
activities of the corporation that the commission considers appropriate are segregated
from the remaining businesses and activities of the corporation for accounting
purposes, including, without limitation, orders(a)
requiring reports from auditors,(b)
requiring reports from actuaries, and(c)
specifying cost allocation practices and other accounting practices that the
corporation is to follow.(3) Before taking any action under this section, the commission must consider any
current reports ordered under subsection (2) (a) or (b).Copyright (c) Queen's Printer, Victoria, British