Latest news with #ManitobaPublicInsurance
Global News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Global News
Distracted driving a major concern among Manitobans: CAA survey
Distracted driving is top-of-mind for Manitobans, according to a new survey conducted by the local branch of CAA. The auto club said the study found that 88 per cent of drivers polled said they're 'somewhat' or 'very' concerned about distracted driving — with 63 per cent saying they've seen distracted drivers nearly cause collisions. A further 46 per cent admitted they, themselves, have engaged in distracted driving. CAA's Ewald Friesen said those results aren't a shock, seeing as distracted driving is currently the top cause of deaths on roads in the province, according to Manitoba Public Insurance. 'It is no surprise that Manitobans are concerned about the dangerous driving they have witnessed, especially when it comes to distracted drivers,' Friesen said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'What is most concerning, however, is that currently, Manitoba does not have a specific distracted driving law, which could help deter distracted drivers and increase road safety. Story continues below advertisement 'We know that drivers who text are far more likely to be involved in a crash or near-crash compared to non-distracted drivers. Distractions inside and outside your vehicle can draw your focus away from where it needs to be most.' CAA Manitoba's survey results also highlighted speeding as a major concern across the province, with 82 per cent of those polled expressing their concern, and the majority supporting the use of automatic speed enforcement (ASE) cameras. Friesen said the photo enforcement cameras are currently only used in Winnipeg. 'ASEs can be a valuable tool in positively shifting driver behaviour and protecting vulnerable road users, especially in areas with schools and community centres,' he said. 'Photo radar cameras should not be used as a revenue generator but rather as a tool to encourage safe driving behaviours, especially in school zones.' The survey, which was conducted with just over 500 adult drivers in Manitoba, also showed strong support for harsher fines and penalties for repeat offenders.
Global News
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
Manitoba Ride for Dad licence plate joins list of options available for drivers
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has released the province's 15th specialty licence plate, issuing Ride for Dad plates earlier this week. The new plates, which support the Manitoba Prostate Cancer Support Group, join a wide range of specialty plates that let Manitoba drivers show their support for everything from local sports teams to charities. MPI told 680 CJOB that the bestselling plates in the province — by a large margin — are those supporting the Winnipeg Jets, with 62,824 regular Jets plates sold to date, as well as 36,057 Jets Heritage plates. Sports are a popular theme among drivers, with 36,438 Winnipeg Blue Bombers plates on Manitoba vehicles, along with Basketball Manitoba (2,622), the Brandon Wheat Kings (2,058), Winnipeg Goldeyes (1,424), and Curl Manitoba (923). Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Snowmobilers of Manitoba members are showing their passion in large numbers, with 17,944 plates sold, and animal lovers are representing the Winnipeg Humane Society to the tune of 10,242 specialty plates. There are 849 Fish Futures plates in the province, as well as 617 in support of the University of Winnipeg. Story continues below advertisement A further 6,193 drivers are sporting Support Our Troops plates, 8,064 MMIWG2S plates are on vehicles across the province, and 2,212 Madox Warriors plates — in support of childhood brain cancer research — are out there as well. For each $70 specialty plate sold, $30 goes toward a designated charity. MPI said the program has raised more than $5.5 million for charity since its inception.
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Peeling licence plates raise safety concerns on Manitoba roads
Peeling licence plates are becoming a more visible problem on Manitoba roadways, prompting a safety reminder from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). According to the Crown corporation, damaged or degraded plates are more than a cosmetic issue — they pose risks to both public safety and enforcement efforts. 'When plates are unreadable, dangerous driving behaviours can go unchecked,' said Tara Seel, MPI's Media and Public Relations Lead. 'That puts everyone at risk on the roadway — whether you're a driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian.' Unreadable plates — often the result of peeling reflective coatings or fading numbers — can interfere with automated systems like photo radar or police scanners. Without clearly visible plates, law enforcement and traffic cameras may be unable to identify vehicles involved in collisions or traffic violations. 'Visibility is also important when it comes to parked vehicles at night,' Seel added. 'The reflective coating helps other road users see those vehicles, which can help prevent collisions.' While licence plate deterioration can occur naturally over time, Seel said Manitoba's climate adds additional strain. 'Extreme temperature fluctuations, road salt, sand, and even regular car washes can cause wear,' she explained. 'We've even seen damage from vehicles bumping into snowbanks or over-scrubbing plates while cleaning.' MPI uses the same licence plate manufacturer as other Canadian jurisdictions and offers a five-year warranty on new plates. If a plate peels or degrades within that time, MPI will replace it at no charge. After five years, the cost to replace both front and rear plates is $15. Drivers may be tempted to repair damaged plates themselves, but MPI strongly advises against this. 'We've seen everything from Sharpie markers to blue nail polish,' Seel said. 'While we appreciate the effort, those methods don't restore reflectivity or meet safety standards. The best thing to do is get the plate replaced.' Under Manitoba's Drivers and Vehicles Act, licence plates must be 'unobstructed and maintained in a condition where all information is clearly visible.' Failing to do so can result in a $113 fine. Seel emphasized that ensuring a plate is in good condition is one simple step Manitobans can take to help keep roads safer for everyone. 'There's no blame involved here,' she said. 'It's just about doing our part to maintain a safe driving environment.' Damaged plates can be replaced at any Autopac broker or MPI service centre. — Pam Fedack is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Have thoughts on what's going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
09-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Auditor general to review MPI's failed Project Nova
The province's auditor general has agreed to take a deep dive into Manitoba Public Insurance's technology infrastructure boondoggle Project Nova. Auditor general Tyson Shtykalo was asked last month by NDP Finance Minister Adrien Sala to investigate the now-scuttled project, which was originally estimated to cost $107 million but by the time MPI terminated it in March had grown to an estimated price tag of $435 million — of which $165 million had already been spent. Satvir Jatana, MPI president and CEO, said in a statement on Wednesday: 'We have recently received news that the auditor general has accepted the request and will be moving forward with the audit. We are committed to working alongside the auditor and his team to complete this work.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES The province's auditor general has agreed to investigate Manitoba Public Insurance's Project Nova. Shtykalo could not be reached for comment. In May, the Consumers' Association of Canada (Manitoba) wrote to the auditor general asking for such an audit. The letter said it was needed 'to prevent repetition of past mistakes by MPI and other public institutions and to complement the Public Utilities Board's protection of Manitobans' interests in setting auto insurance rates.' Last month, Sala wrote to the auditor general, saying an internal government review had found a number of 'concerns' about MPI's management of Nova. 'A review, by Treasury Board secretariat, identified concerns about the selection of the software and the system integrator, terms of the vendor contract and irregularities in contract practices,' Sala wrote. 'In addition, MPI is expected to continue paying software licences that will not be used in the future years.' Project Nova was announced in 2020 by the then-Tory government as a major computer upgrade by the Crown auto insurer, enabling both its Autopac and commercial customers to go online to renew or amend insurance policies and driver's licences. As well, the system was to be designed to speed up processing of damage claims by linking together MPI and repair shops. Then-MPI CEO Eric Herbelin said at the time it would cost $107 million and be implemented within three years. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Two years later, the estimated cost of the project had ballooned to $290 million and the implementation time was pushed to five years. By 2023, Herbelin had been fired by the MPI board after an internal performance review. His replacement, Jatana, later not only terminated all future Nova work (because the total estimated cost was now $435 million) but in early 2025 also said MPI was temporarily disabling part of what it had already implemented — the computer program used for special risk-extension (SRE) renewals and new policies for commercial customers — while going back to a former paper-based system. 'Despite our significant investments in time and resources, especially in recent months, to move this work forward, we have not seen the improvements that we anticipated,' Jatana said in an email sent in April to staff members which was obtained by the Free Press. 'It has become clear that attempting to fix the system while working in it is not in the best interests of our teams, our broker partners or our SRE customers.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manitoba wildfire evacuees get extension to renew driver's licences, IDs
Manitoba's public auto insurer says wildfire evacuees with documents that are expired, or nearing expiration, will have a bit more time to renew them. Driver's licences, vehicle registrations, insurance, and identification cards with expiry dates on or after May 23, and before September 1, will be valid until the end of September for those subject to wildfire evacuation orders, Manitoba Public Insurance said in a Saturday news release. Evacuees are encouraged to check the expiry dates on their documents, and to renew them if needed, but MPI says it understands that may not be possible for everyone during an evacuation. The extensions will allow wildfire evacuees to continue to use their vehicles or identification cards even if their pertaining documents are expired. MPI says it will continue to send out renewal notices to customers via Canada Post.
