About Us

The Nova Scotia Insurance Review Board was created through an act to amend the Laws Respecting Automobile Insurance enacted by Bill No. 1 and assented to on October 30, 2003, to serve as the regulatory body for automobile insurance in the Province of Nova Scotia.

The Board shall examine and report to the Governor in Council respecting any matter referred to it by the Governor in Council, including:

• automobile insurance rates and factors affecting them;
• casualty insurance rates and availability and factors affecting them, including accident insurance, fire insurance, homeowners’ and tenants’ insurance and like coverage;
• liability insurance rates and availability factors affecting them; and
• any matter designated by the Governor in Council respecting any class of insurance and the factors affecting its cost or availability.

In addition to these responsibilities the IRB has also been tasked with conducting an examination:

• of the rates and availability of fire, other property and liability insurance for homeowners, tenants, non-profit organizations and small businesses and report to the Governor in Council on or before the first day of November, 2004; and
• into the use of gender as a risk-classification factor by insurers and report the results of its examination to the Governor in Council no later than November 1, 2004.

One of the main functions of the Board will be to hold reviews and hearings on rules and rate filings to ensure they meet the standards set out in the legislation and regulations. The Board ensures compliance with the Act by administering rules, publishing policy statements and interpretations, ordering investigations and actuarial reports, imposing administrative and monetary sanctions and exercising the function of a tribunal. The Board members are required to take evidence, make findings of fact and law, and make decisions affecting the legal rights of consumers and insurance companies.

The Board is comprised of seven individuals appointed pursuant to the Insurance Act. All Board members are part time.

Normally the Board will conduct hearings in Halifax, but will consider holding hearings in other areas of the Province as determined by the Chair.