About Us

Established in 1964, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada’s
private home, auto and business insurers.

Our member companies represent 90% of the Canadian property and casualty (P&C) insurance market, including 45 private passenger auto insurers across Alberta.

We know Alberta drivers are facing a difficult auto insurance market and that there are some big issues to tackle. That’s why we are committed to working with consumers, industry and government to create a sustainable and accessible auto insurance system that meets the needs of drivers – now and in the future.

We are also focused on increasing consumers’ knowledge of the insurance industry to help drivers make informed decisions and understand the changes to auto insurance that are impacting them.

To help foster insurance education, IBC has an Alberta-based consumer information centre where trained industry personnel answer thousands of inquiries each year.

To learn more about IBC, please visit ibc.ca.

Alberta’s Insurance Industry is Local and Essential

The insurance industry employs thousands of people across the province who live and work in the same communities as the clients they serve.

  • There were 10,842 people working in Alberta’s property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry in 2018.
  • For every 100 jobs created in the P&C insurance industry, 42 are created in other areas of the province’s economy.
  •  The total economic footprint associated with the P&C insurance network supports 15,445 jobs in Alberta or about 1 in every 150 jobs.

The insurance industry is a significant contributor to Alberta’s economy.

  • The P&C insurance industry directly contributed $1.2 billion to Alberta’s GDP in 2018.
  • P&C insurance companies paid $375 million in premium taxes and $155 million in health care levies in 2017.

Source: Conference Board of Canada Report – Alberta’s Insureconomy: The economic contribution of the property and casualty insurance industry – commissioned by IBC (July 2019).

Who We Are

Aaron Sutherland

Vice-President, Western, IBC

Aaron has a reputation for improving the lives of Canadians through enthusiastic, dedicated advocacy. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Aaron previously held positions with the provincial government. At Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Aaron strives to elicit positive change and sound public policy on key issues that affect the lives of Albertans.

As IBC’s Acting Vice-President, Western, Aaron directs the association’s government relations activities in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Territories.

Prior to joining IBC in 2014, he held senior roles with the Interior Health Authority and the BC government.

Aaron’s passion for community advocacy has inspired him to become involved in several causes, including the Pacific Northwest Preparedness Society and Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver.

Team - Tim Morrison

Tim Morrison

Director, Government Relations, Western, IBC

Born, raised and educated in Thunder Bay, Tim moved to Edmonton in the late 1990s with eyes on building a future in Alberta – like so many other people in the province today. After working in the agriculture sector for a few years, he went back to school in Edmonton and eventually landed a job in Alberta Environment.

From there he’s had roles in government across western Canada, including the BC government and Calgary Health Region.

In 2007, Tim was hired as a Chief of Staff to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and for the next seven years proudly served for four different Ministers in six different departments. In 2014, he left government to become a full-time consultant for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and also worked part-time for 13 Ways, a consulting agency focused on rural community building. Tim joined IBC in 2017 as the Director of Government Relations for the Western region.

Tim enjoys live music, muscle cars and biking in Edmonton’s River Valley.

Team - Nick Koolsbergen

Nick Koolsbergen

CEO and co-founder, Wellington Advocacy

Nick Koolsbergen is the CEO and co-founder of Wellington Advocacy, a campaign, communications and government relations consulting firm. He is also an avid hockey and baseball fan, and can often be found at Kelly’s Pub watching sports with friends.

Prior to founding Wellington Advocacy, Nick lived in Edmonton where he served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Director for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

Nick previously served as Chief of Staff to former BC Premier Christy Clark, Director of Issues Management to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Director of Communications to then Minister of Employment and Social Development Jason Kenney, and Director of Issues Management for the Ontario PC Party.

To learn more about IBC’s national leadership team, please visit ibc.ca.

Contact Us

Got questions? There are insurance professionals ready to answer your questions and help you navigate this difficult auto insurance market.
Call Insurance Bureau of Canada’s (IBC’s) Insurance Helpline at 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422) to speak to someone today or email the team at AskIBCWest@ibc.ca.