Edmonton, Alberta -- Albertans are unhappy with proposed reforms to the province's auto insurance system.
A recent survey conducted by Nanos Research reveals that only 19 percent of Albertans believe the government's proposed shift to a no-fault auto insurance system — administered by for-profit companies — will lead to lower premiums. In contrast, 47 percent consider such savings unlikely.
The survey, commissioned by the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch (CBA Alberta), underscores the importance Albertans place on legal rights and accountability. Seventy-five percent of respondents consider the right to sue someone for compensation when harmed or injured as important, with a mean importance score of 8.0 out of 10. Additionally, 82 percent emphasize the significance of holding individuals legally and financially responsible for actions causing injury or harm, scoring a mean of 8.3 out of 10.
"Albertans are sending a clear message: people want fairness, accountability, and the ability to seek justice when they're harmed," says Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research. "They are skeptical that the proposed changes will lower their premiums."
The study also indicates that auto insurance reform is not a pressing concern for most Albertans, with 52 percent deeming it not urgent. Instead, priorities lay with healthcare (51 percent), cost of living (25 percent), education (22 percent) and affordable housing (19 percent).
"These are significant changes to auto insurance that will directly affect the rights of Albertans," says Robert D.L. Bassett, President of the Canadian Bar Association – Alberta Branch. "We commissioned this research to better understand Albertans' perspectives and ensure those views are part of the conversation."
CBA Alberta represents over 5,500 lawyers across the province, practicing in various areas of law related to auto insurance.
While many Albertans remain deeply skeptical of no-fault insurance, these views clash with findings from numerous economic and actuarial studies suggesting that no-fault systems reduce overall system costs.
Jurisdictions such as Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia — each with publicly administered no-fault schemes — report lower average premiums compared to provinces with private tort-based systems. Academic research also points to decreased litigation costs, more predictable payouts, and streamlined claims handling under no-fault regimes.
The survey involved an online representative sample of 1,087 Albertans aged 18 and over, conducted between March 24 and April 1, 2025. While a margin of error cannot be calculated on a non-probability sample, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of ±3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
