With a bylaw in draft stage, the agreement between City of Powell River and Fire Marque is in motion [“City of Powell River councillor questions firefighting recovery costs bylaw,” September 13].
If the bylaw passes, residents of Powell River who have suffered losses from a house fire would be contacted by Fire Marque, an outside company, and asked to provide the name of their insurance company so Fire Marque can make a claim against the extended coverage for fire department service charges.
Whatever is reaped from that insurance claim would be split: 70 per cent for the city to allocate to the fire department and 30 per cent for Fire Marque. For the past several decades, fire department service charges have always been covered by property taxes. Fire victims were never contacted regarding fire department service charges.
Why this change? Not for “cost recovery” as it is being touted, but strictly to gain revenue. There is no mention of a reduction in property taxes as a result of Fire Marque’s proposal.
The only way this works is if the fire victim with an insurance policy willingly hands over their policy information. Insurance policies are confidential documents between a company and the holder of the policy. Details of that policy should never be given to a third party.
People purchase insurance for their own peace of mind, not to provide profit in the thousands of dollars for a company like Fire Marque. Any and all claims against the fire department service charges line in our policies should see those proceeds being applied 100 per cent to the fire department. If that means the city has to send a bill to fire victims, then so be it. That will be another bridge to cross.
Right now there is still time to question a bylaw meant to increase revenue and put money in the pockets of an outside company. The optics are bad and it’s not right. Creating a bylaw to hire Fire Marque can be done but it doesn’t mean it should be done.
Lynda Harris
Cascade Place
Powell River
