About Me

I am operating a consulting practice following 33 years in various positions in the Ontario public service.  During that time I have become one of Ontario’s foremost expert on auto insurance having worked for 20 years on auto insurance regulatory policy for the Ontario government including 4 major reforms of the Ontario auto insurance system.

From 1991 to 1993, I worked on designing the no-fault accident benefits schedule that was introduced in 1994 under Bill 164 by the NDP government.  That reforms package introduced neutral medical examinations, compensation for economic losses including students, comprehensive rehabilitation benefits and the first tort deductibles in Canada for pain and suffering awards. 

I was the policy lead when the Ontario auto insurance system was reviewed form 1995 to 1996 by the Conservative government.  The reforms that were introduced in 1996 restored access to tort for economic losses for not at-fault victims included a higher tier of no-fault accident benefits for victims with catastrophic injuries and introduced a requirement that medical and rehabilitation goods and services needed prior approval by insurers.

When the Ontario auto insurance system underwent further reforms in 2003, I was once again the policy lead for the government.  The reforms introduced by Bill 198 included the adoption of recommendations made by the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash Associated Disorders (WADs) with the introduction of clinical practice guidelines for WAD injuries.  The Bill 198 reforms addressed some of the cost pressures in the system by increasing the tort deductibles for pain and suffering awards, introducing maximum fees for health care providers and requiring prior approval by the insurer of all claimant initiated assessments.

In 2008 the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) undertook the first legislated review of the Ontario auto insurance system as a result of a new requirement introduced in 2003 under Bill 198.  I conducted this review on behalf of the Superintendent of Financial Services. The Five Year Review Report was completed in 2009 and introduced a package of reforms to address fraudulent and abusive practices in the auto insurance system and provide consumers with more choice regarding their insurance coverage.  These reforms included a scaled-back no-fault accident benefits schedule, an expanded clinical practice guideline to cover all minor injuries, a reduced tier of benefits for victims with minor injuries and caps on both insurer and claimant initiated assessments. 

Some of my more recent consulting work includes support to the Minister of Finance’s Auto Insurance Anti-Fraud Task Force and the Ontario Auto Insurance Dispute Resolution System Review and a strategic plan for West Park Assessment Centre. 

Earlier in my career I was an administrator at a rehabilitation facility in Toronto and worked on accident benefits policy for the Workplace Safety Insurance Board.

I did undergraduate work at the University of Toronto and have graduate degrees from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto and the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.