Automobile Insurance Rates in Nova Scotia

The Competition Bureau initiated an inquiry into automobile insurance rates in Nova Scotia on March 19, 2002, following an application filed by six persons resident in Canada. The applicants alleged that automobile insurance companies in Nova Scotia had conspired to increase automobile insurance premiums and to discriminate against certain communities and age groups contrary to the conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act.

This matter was considered under the provisions of section 45 of the Act relating to conspiracy and under section 49 relating to agreements or arrangements among federal financial institutions. The Bureau's inquiry concluded that while there was an increase in automobile insurance premiums, the information obtained during the course of this inquiry did not provide any evidence that the automobile insurance companies had reached an agreement or arrangement to increase insurance premiums or to discriminate between communities and/or age groups.

The inquiry was discontinued on April 1^st, 2003.

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