We're happy Manitoba Public Insurance is giving us some of our money back. But contrary to the Crown corporation's propaganda this week, they're not doing it willingly.

"When you have a system that's intended to break even and intended to provide coverage to people at cost, and if you have better financial results than you expect, that's the only thing to do with any excess money -- give it right back to the people who contribute it," MPI president Marilyn McLaren said this week.

But the trouble is, MPI fought this rebate tooth-and-nail and are only mailing out cheques now because they were forced to by the Public Utilities Board.

In fact, MPI vice-president of corporate affairs John Douglas said in October that it would be irresponsible to give motorists their money back.

The Manitoba branch of the Consumers' Association of Canada, in a joint application last year with the Manitoba Society of Seniors, asked the PUB to order the insurance agency to rebate the money.

"The (reserve) is a cushion to provide stability to rates," said Douglas. "What (the two groups) are really saying is they want us to put aside best practices ... The consumer agency is prepared to expose Manitobans to rate increases."

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