"Last August in a news conference and again in their election Blue Book, the premier committed to several initiatives to lower insurance rates," said Sweeney. "Each day, we hear of cases where businesses must close, people are unfairly treated and volunteer organizations are unable to perform community services. This issue is rapidly ballooning into a crisis situation in many areas, yet the government is unwilling to address it.

"I believe the new minister, for whatever reason, is trying to stall implementation of a new plan for insurance that was promised 120 days after a PC government took office. Officials in the department have already conducted sufficient research and analysis of several possible reform options and the minister must simply choose one and present it to Cabinet.

"We are presently in a situation where reform will not happen for another year. Once we enter March month, government will be unable to draft legislation in time to bring it to the House of Assembly before November."

The Liberal MHA also questions the accountability of Minister Whalen and the Conservative government. "I have publicly been asking for the release of the status and details of the PUB study being commissioned for the department for several months. Several weeks ago, I wrote the Minister concerning this issue and have received no response. For a government that campaigned on a platform of openness and accountability, the door is certainly shut on their plans for insurance reform."