Report undermines push towards Care First and the removal of Albertan’s rights
September 21, 2026 – The Alberta Auto Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) quietly released a new bulletin and actuarial report last week, offering updated benchmark data for insurers. While the release came without public announcement or media engagement, the findings raise serious concerns about the narrative being used to justify sweeping changes to Alberta’s auto insurance system — including the proposed shift to the Care First model, which would eliminate Albertans’ right to seek full and fair compensation through the courts.
The AIRB’s own data shows that claim costs across all coverages fell sharply between 2024 and 2025, dropping from $1,825 to $1,398. This significant decrease directly contradicts repeated claims from government and the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) that bodily injury costs are “out of control” and that removing Albertans’ rights is the only way to reduce premiums.
Earlier this year, the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association (ACTLA) identified the 2024 Calgary hailstorm and severe weather events as the primary drivers of that year’s elevated claim costs — not bodily injury claims and certainly not injured Albertans seeking legal assistance. Despite this, both AIRB and IBC continued to publicly attribute rising premiums to bodily injury claims, a narrative that is not supported by the newly released data.
The AIRB also previously cited significantly higher bodily injury cost figures on social media in October 2025 — numbers that were $44,000 higher than what appears in the final report released this week. To date, no correction or follow‑up has been issued to reflect the updated, lower cost figures.
Even more troubling, premiums continue to rise despite the documented reduction in claim costs. This widening gap between actual claim costs and consumer premiums raises serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the accuracy of public messaging around auto insurance reform.
“Albertans are being told that their rights must be taken away to control costs — yet the AIRB’s own data shows those costs are going down. Care First would strip injured people of the ability to seek fair compensation, while insurers continue to raise premiums even as claim costs fall. This is not reform; it is a transfer of power and protection away from Albertans and toward insurance companies.” — Laura Comfort, Board Chair, Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association
Albertans deserve better.
New AIRB Report Shows Claim Costs Dropped, Undermining Push Toward Care First And The Removal Of Albertans’ Rights – ACTLA MEDIA RELEASE