Manitobans will be getting a nice piece of mail in the coming months.
Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton said Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) will be returning $110 million in two stages.
The agency can send out $50 million in rebates immediately, with approval needed from the provincial Public Utilities Board (PUB) to release the additional $60 million.
The rebate is directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wharton said with less people driving, insurance claims are way down.
“This will return money to Manitobans at a time it is needed most,” Wharton said.
“Rebates are based on what policy holders paid last year, and are expected to be about 11 per cent, or about $140 - $160 per average policy holder.”
The current plan is to send rebates out in the mail through cheques as opposed to direct deposit
“This is an area that we recognize is a concern, and it has been this way for a number of years,” Wharton said.
“Our government is moving forward to ensure that exact availability will be coming forward in the near future.”
The province hopes to send the cheques by June 1.
Wharton said MPI has strong cash reserves, and will remain healthy throughout the pandemic.
The province has asked all non-essential public workers to cut their hours to help slow the economic impact the pandemic has on the province, and prevent layoffs.
Wharton said negotiations with public sector unions are ongoing.
“We’re working every day in collaboration with our crown corporations,” he said.
“There is no handbook on how COVID-19 is rolling out, and we’re moving at lightning speed and safety is our number one concern.”
More information on the rebates will be available at mpi.mb.ca.
