UCP Members overwhelmingly Reject Care-First

At the UCP’s Annual General Meeting in December 2025, delegates delivered a strong message: they overwhelmingly rejected the government’s proposed Care First no-fault auto insurance model. This marked a rare, grassroots pushback against a major policy initiative from their own party, and highlights just how controversial no-fault insurance has become within Alberta. 

For more than two years, Albertans have raised serious concerns about Care First; not just because premiums are high, but because the plan would fundamentally alter the rights of injured people. Under the proposed model, the right to sue negligent drivers, access tailored compensation through the courts, and hold insurers accountable would all be diminished. Instead, compensation would be determined through administrative mechanisms that shift power away from individuals and toward insurance companies. 

The rejection of no-fault by UCP members reflects a broader unease with trading accountability and legal rights for promises of efficiency. Many delegates and observers see the move as reaffirming core Alberta values: personal responsibility, accountability, and the right of individuals to seek justice through the courts when they’ve been harmed. An article penned by Juno News argues that these principles should guide any future reform, rather than importing models like British Columbia’s Enhanced Care system, which critics say has left injured people with little recourse when insurers cut off treatment. 

Supporters of Care First were right to point out that insurance premiums are too high. However, as the AGM outcome suggests, affordability cannot come at the expense of justice and legal accountability. This vote gives the government a clear direction, which groups like Albertans Against No Fault Insurance have been championing for years: go back to the drawing board and design a “Made in Alberta” solution that balances fair compensation, access to courts, and responsible cost management without abolishing fundamental legal rights. 

THE BOTTOM LINE: the overwhelming rejection of the Care First no-fault model by the UCP’s membership sends a clear message to Danielle Smith that sacrificing our legal rights in order to line the pockets of the insurance company executive is not something that Albertans will stand for. Alberta’s auto insurance system can, and should, be reformed in a way that preserves accountability, access to justice, and fair compensation for injured drivers.

Read the full story at Juno News: https://www.junonews.com/p/op-ed-after-the-rejection-of-no-fault