[Timpo]

NDP wants Auditor General to review ICBC finances
ROB SHAW
Published on: November 28, 2016 | Last Updated: November 28, 2016 4:09 PM PST

http://wpmedia.vancouversun.com/2016/09/vancouver-b-c-may-1-2016-i-c-b-c-offices-in-north-v.jpeg?quality=55&strip=all&w=840&h=630&crop=1
Insurance Corp. of B.C. (ICBC) offices MARK VAN MANEN / PNG


http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ndp-wants-auditor-general-to-review-icbc-finances

VICTORIA — B.C.’s Auditor General should probe the worsening financial problems at the Insurance Corp. of B.C., says the Opposition NDP.

NDP critic Adrian Dix wrote to Auditor General Carol Bellringer on Monday, urging her to examine the government’s financial withdrawals from ICBC and the implications to ratepayers.

ICBC released last week a hypothetical scenario that could see rates rise as much as 42 per cent by 2020, if the corporation can’t reduce claims and injury costs. That scenario, which the government described as “worst case” was built using revenue and investment assumptions dictated by the B.C. Utilities Commission, which ICBC said wasn’t an accurate or fair way to forecast its finances.

“More disconcerting than that, ICBC’s 42% forecast depends on $1.5 billion falling from the sky,” Dix wrote in his letter to Bellringer.

“Over the past few years, the Liberal government has scooped $2.6 billion from ICBC’s optional capital intended to pay for claims on the optional side of the business — $1.2 billion to government coffers and $1.4 billion to basic insurance capital.


“This is the likely source of this $1.5 billion but this is not stated anywhere. Or is the taxpayer going to be asked to directly subsidize basic insurance?”

Dix said Bellringer is needed to examine ICBC because the province’s independent regulator, the BCUC, has no authority to review the optional side of the corporation’s business. ICBC maintains a monopoly on providing basic insurance, but competes with private companies to sell optional.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone said last week ICBC is under significant financial pressure and the government will unveil several reforms in coming weeks designed to cut costs.

Stone also announced that ICBC will no longer insure luxury vehicles worth more than $150,000, because they are six times more expensive to repair than ordinary vehicles. But that change will only save ICBC an estimated $2.3 million on more almost $4 billion annually in claims, and has so far been marred by confusion and a lack of details.

[MrPhreak]

Funny coming from those idiots... the NDP were the ones that started the raping of ICBC back when they were in power. They started pulling out around 300M a year and essentially started the rate hikes.

FYI: NDP did the same things with BC Hydro

[godwin]

Politicians who wants auditing always forgets to tell the tax payer how much it cost to run audits..

Unless you find major areas that needs fixing, it is an expensive make work project.

[Jmac]

Politicians who wants auditing always forgets to tell the tax payer how much it cost to run audits..

Unless you find major areas that needs fixing, it is an expensive make work project.
How do you know there are major areas that need fixing without an audit?

[godwin]

Like any large corporation I am pretty sure they run internal audits regularly.. NDP wants a public one and I haven't seen one that is not a sh*t show. It is a publicity stunt.

I highly doubt any Joe Public can come up with any useful suggestions that ICBC employees haven't tried already..

How do you know there are major areas that need fixing without an audit?

[Timpo]

Like any large corporation I am pretty sure they run internal audits regularly.. NDP wants a public one and I haven't seen one that is not a sh*t show.
According to the 2015 ICBC Financial Statement, on page 5, it says ICBC was audited by CPA company called Pircewaterhouse Coopers LLP
PWC website: PwC Canada , English (http://www.pwc.com/ca/en.html)
ICBC Financial Report http://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/company-info/Documents/Statement-of-financial-info-2015.pdf

I don't know if this would mean anything though?

[jackmeister]

Like any large corporation I am pretty sure they run internal audits regularly.. NDP wants a public one and I haven't seen one that is not a sh*t show. It is a publicity stunt.

I highly doubt any Joe Public can come up with any useful suggestions that ICBC employees haven't tried already..

NDP does not have a concept of costs. What did you expect?

[StylinRed]

Funny coming from those idiots... the NDP were the ones that started the raping of ICBC back when they were in power. They started pulling out around 300M a year and essentially started the rate hikes.

FYI: NDP did the same things with BC Hydro

Crooks

All provincial govt have been raiding the coffers of provincial crown corps, everytime we get a rate hike with a lame excuse there was the provincial govt digging their paws into the coffers right before

Crown coprs also invest in the market and when the market drops there's another rate hike to cover the losses

[MG1]

Isn't this about money being scooped up by the government rather than how efficient or not the insurance corporation is?

Any money made by the corporation should go back into the system.

I dunno..............

[MrPhreak]

Like any large corporation I am pretty sure they run internal audits regularly.. NDP wants a public one and I haven't seen one that is not a sh*t show. It is a publicity stunt.

I highly doubt any Joe Public can come up with any useful suggestions that ICBC employees haven't tried already..

Should be a law that the provincial government cannot take money out of crown corporations like ICBC and BC Hydro to try and balance their books. Any surplus money made should be rebated to the citizens who own it, and rates should be reduced going forward.

[godwin]

That's the thing, an audit won't tell you that. It just tells you what various income go into ICBC and expeditures ICBC are.

It won't tell you money ICBC has left over should go to where. That's what legislation suppose to do.

An audit in this case is as effective as saying flying cars will solve land congestion problems. Doesn't take Sherlock to figure it out.

Should be a law that the provincial government cannot take money out of crown corporations like ICBC and BC Hydro to try and balance their books. Any surplus money made should be rebated to the citizens who own it, and rates should be reduced going forward.

[Timpo]

Should be a law that the provincial government cannot take money out of crown corporations like ICBC and BC Hydro to try and balance their books. Any surplus money made should be rebated to the citizens who own it, and rates should be reduced going forward.

Can't Christy Clark tell whoever in the BC government not to take money out of ICBC and BC Hydro? She's a premier so..

[Timpo]

Premier Christy Clark avoiding questions on long-term ICBC rates
Clark standing firm on 4.9 per cent rate increase for ICBC in 2016
By Richard Zussman, CBC News Posted: Nov 22, 2016 2:52 PM PT Last Updated: Nov 22, 2016 5:54 PM PT

Premier Christy Clark avoiding questions on long-term ICBC rates - British Columbia - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/premier-christy-clark-avoiding-questions-on-long-term-icbc-rates-1.3862654)

https://i.cbc.ca/1.3722276.1471302646!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/icbc-office.JPG
ICBC is concerned long term rate projections would be taken out of context. (David Horemans/CBC)

As debate heats up, B.C. Premier Christy Clark is avoiding the discussion on whether the public insurer should be required to disclose future projected rate increases.

When asked on Tuesday, Clark did not directly answer the question of whether ICBC should have to release the projections, only saying she wants to ensure rates don't go too high in the immediate future.

"I think ICBC should keep the rates at a 4.9 per cent increase, which is what the government is committed to doing. People cannot afford these massive rate increases," said Clark. "I am fighting for the ratepayers, people who drive cars, the moms and dads who already find life unaffordable."

https://i.cbc.ca/1.3473451.1456961567!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_300/clark-electric.jpg
Premier Christy Clark wants to make sure ICBC does not increase rates more than 4.9 per cent this year. (Glen Kugelstadt/CBC)

Increase of 4.9 per cent already submitted

The provincial government has approved a 4.9 per cent increase in 2016 that would add $3.50 a month to the average auto insurance bill or $42 a year.

The B.C. Utilities Commission, the organization that regulates ICBC, has called on the insurer to provide some clarity to what sort of increases are expected each year until 2020. ICBC has refused to this point to release the projections because of concerns they would be taken out of context.

ICBC has already submitted an application that would see rates go up 4.9 per cent.

NDP says Clark is being disingenuous

NDP critic Adrian Dix says Clark is being disingenuous in her statement about making sure rates do not become unaffordable.

https://i.cbc.ca/1.3563395.1479855199!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_300/adrian-dix.JPG
Adrian Dix, speaking to reporters outside of budget estimates, on May 2, 2016. (Richard Zussman/CBC News)

Dix has calculated that ICBC insurance rates have gone up about 30 per cent over the last five years.

Documents provided by Dix also show the provincial government has moved nearly $1.2 billion from ICBC revenues into provincial coffers. It is unclear where that money was used, but the province has committed to not taking revenues out of ICBC's account this fiscal year.

"It is time the public sees Christy Clark's pure incompetence at ICBC. The gall for to come out and say she is protecting taxpayers when her government scooped out $1.2 billion that was suppose to be used to pay for claims," said Dix.

ICBC argued the 4.9 per cent increase is necessary in order to cover an increase in claims and incidents of insurance fraud.

The BCUC still needs to approve the rate increase before it is finalized.

[MrPhreak]

Can't Christy Clark tell whoever in the BC government not to take money out of ICBC and BC Hydro? She's a premier so..

The problem is the NDP left BC with billions of dollars of debt at the end of the 90's... so they either had to hike taxes on British Colombians significantly, or continue with the NDP con of taking money out of crown corporations to balance the books. It was actually a lot worse than most people even knew. The NDP had shoved massive amounts of debt into brand new crown corporations to pay for infrastructure projects so they wouldn't have to put it on the books and it wouldn't show up for the budget.

Doesn't matter what government gets in, raping BC Hydro and ICBC isn't going to stop... it can't, simply for the fact that it would be political suicide.

The main problem is that when you try to use tough love to pay down debt (slashing social funding, reducing government size, getting tough on spending, and applying honest and straight forward taxation)... people get upset. Look at what happened with the HST: it would have streamlined taxation in BC, significantly reduced costs by combining federal and provincial tax offices, and most businesses were actually for it. People freaked out and it had to be changed back at a huge cost to the province.

I don't see the spending spree ending anytime soon... in fact, I expect to see sky high ICBC rates continue, and ridiculous BC Hydro rates. The only way this will change is if enough awareness is brought to it, and one of the parties makes a promise to stop taking money from it in hopes it gets them elected in.

[Timpo]

The problem is the NDP left BC with billions of dollars of debt at the end of the 90's... so they either had to hike taxes on British Colombians significantly, or continue with the NDP con of taking money out of crown corporations to balance the books. It was actually a lot worse than most people even knew. The NDP had shoved massive amounts of debt into brand new crown corporations to pay for infrastructure projects so they wouldn't have to put it on the books and it wouldn't show up for the budget.

Doesn't matter what government gets in, raping BC Hydro and ICBC isn't going to stop... it can't, simply for the fact that it would be political suicide.

The main problem is that when you try to use tough love to pay down debt (slashing social funding, reducing government size, getting tough on spending, and applying honest and straight forward taxation)... people get upset. Look at what happened with the HST: it would have streamlined taxation in BC, significantly reduced costs by combining federal and provincial tax offices, and most businesses were actually for it. People freaked out and it had to be changed back at a huge cost to the province.

I don't see the spending spree ending anytime soon... in fact, I expect to see sky high ICBC rates continue, and ridiculous BC Hydro rates. The only way this will change is if enough awareness is brought to it, and one of the parties makes a promise to stop taking money from it in hopes it gets them elected in.
well they always tell us the reason why ICBC rate is so high is because of exaggerated injury claims.
we're paying approx. $100/year more than we should because them.

I wonder how much ICBC money is being used to pay off BC debt

[MrPhreak]

well they always tell us the reason why ICBC rate is so high is because of exaggerated injury claims.
we're paying approx. $100/year more than we should because them.

I wonder how much ICBC money is being used to pay off BC debt

It works out to ~410 million dollars each year from BC Hydro in the form of dividends, and ~160 million a year from ICBC as excess capital. BC slips farther into debt every year... so not much goes against the debt, mostly just to maintaining current government spending.

Really ICBC should be cutting rebate cheques (like they used to back in the day), and operating like a not-for-profit business. BC Hydro should be re-investing some of their surplus money into infrastructure projects and working to reduce hydro rates.

Bottom line, is the government needs to be forced to get their sticky fingers out of crown corporations that are put in a monopoly positions like this. The NDP may have started this trend, but this is really a non-partisan issue.

[Soundy]

Politicians who wants auditing always forgets to tell the tax payer how much it cost to run audits..

Unless you find major areas that needs fixing, it is an expensive make work project.

Of course. And then if the audit finds nothing, they can snip about the Liberals wasting taxpayer funds on an audit that wasn't needed. Win-win!

[Timpo]

Once-profitable ICBC suffers from mismanagement
Published:
December 27, 2016
Updated:
December 27, 2016 2:05 PM PST

Once-profitable ICBC suffers from mismanagement | The Province (http://theprovince.com/opinion/letters/once-profitable-icbc-suffers-from-mismanagement)

http://wpmedia.theprovince.com/2016/11/vancouver-bc-march-17-2010-icbc-claim-centre-at-456-w.jpeg?quality=60&strip=all&w=840&h=630&crop=1
ICBC needs to get its own house in order, says letter writer. Jason Payne / PROVINCE

Re: New review ordered for ICBC rates, Dec. 20

Calling for fundamental changes to our insurance lets the Liberals and ICBC pass the buck for their own mismanagement. Let’s not forget that ICBC was not only solvent, but immensely profitable only a few years ago, before our government pilfered its coffers and a new management regime called for aggressive litigation tactics resulting in escalated costs.

The powers-that-be should get their house in order rather than suggest a WCB-style approach that hangs injured people out to dry. Compensation “caps” and “no-fault” policies do not decrease rates — just ask Alberta and Ontario.

Meanwhile, the coming years will see a dramatic decline in accidents due to the increasing prevalence of anti-collision technology on the roads. Most new cars come equipped with auto-braking sensors that make rear-end collisions a thing of the past. As these new cars replace the old ones on the road, injury claims will no doubt dwindle.

But for the injury claims that will remain, let’s not strip ourselves of the ability to seek fair compensation. That would play right into ICBC’s hands, while rewarding their bad behaviour and that of reckless drivers.


Nicholas Parker, Vancouver

[tiger_handheld]

looks like ICBC does a shit job of managing their investments or timing the investment purchases at least. I'm sure they got managers who are in charge but maybe they need to balance a good opportunity with available cash better?

they also lose a bunch of money on non-insurance business? to the tune of 123 mil per year. Unless this is some essential service, maybe get out?

claims are also high than premiums paid - so maybe they need to figure out how to manage those payouts better? price discriminate like a crazy mofo, because one size fits all doesn't seem to work.

[Tapioca]

There's no easy solution.

Look at your local community newspaper sometime: personal injury law firms are making a killing on taking a Crown corporation to task. It's far too easy to blame ICBC themselves. Low balling settlements is in the public's interest.

On the other hand, if you privitize insurance, we will end up with a situation similar to Ontario - young and male drivers get discriminated. There's no guarantee that you'll get better value for your money when something happens to your car or you in an accident either under a private system. At least ICBC provides a respectable level of service for all clients.

[6o4__boi]

lol what was up with the "new, upgraded" information system that ICBC recently did?

i've had more than a few insurance agents say it sucks and was actually a downgrade over the previous one.

[meme405]

lol what was up with the "new, upgraded" information system that ICBC recently did?

i've had more than a few insurance agents say it sucks and was actually a downgrade over the previous one.

I'm not in insurance, so I haven't used either system.

BUT when companies I have worked for moved from windows XP to windows 7, or office 2007 to office 365 (both great upgrades), many non-computer types would complain about the changes because they are too inept to learn anything new.

Not saying that I would be surprised if ICBC rolled out some half assed software package.

But maybe take what you are hearing with a grain of salt, or perhaps pay closer attention to the source you are getting it from. Maybe the problem isn't the software and it's the idiot user who refuses to get used to doing things differently.

[6o4__boi]

BUT when companies I have worked for moved from windows XP to windows 7, or office 2007 to office 365 (both great upgrades), many non-computer types would complain about the changes because they are too inept to learn anything new.


:lawl:

reminds me of a time when i did IT support at some place that upgraded from ME to XP

bunch of older employees kept logging tickets saying they couldn't figure out the new OS because colors were different and things were moved around


RE: the icbc upgrade, seems their complaint was something about not being able to bring up certain info like they used to make the process faster.

[vantrip]

I think the only reasonable step left for the province and ICBC is allow private companies to start selling basic 3rd party coverage, This way ICBC won't have to shell out the first 200k everytime anyone has a accident.

I know this may not be popular with some but ultimately we need a free market system for insurance and this way people without at fault claims get the best deal and not have to pay for people causing accident.

Also they should significantly increase price of anyone with more that 1 at-faults claim to discourage them from driving or force them to take mandatory driving lessons. This seems harsh but at the end of the day driving is not a right, much good can come if more people leave cars at home and take alternative transportation.

[Nlkko]

Private insurance.... best deals. Soundbites. Never worked that way. Private companies' only mandate is to make profit. One way or another they will be profitable.

[tonyzoomzoom]

difficult for ICBC to truly compete with private insurance if they are saddled as the insurer of last resort. They'd get all the bad drivers while the private companies cherry pick all the good ones.

The government needs to keeps their hands out of the cookie jar of ICBC, BCHydro, etc and just let them operate.

[vantrip]

Private insurance.... best deals. Soundbites. Never worked that way. Private companies' only mandate is to make profit. One way or another they will be profitable.

I hope you understand ICBC does the same. Its a business after all. Believe me I seen people have there insurance voided when they got into a accident while impaired. Private or public they outcome is the same.

difficult for ICBC to truly compete with private insurance if they are saddled as the insurer of last resort. They'd get all the bad drivers while the private companies cherry pick all the good ones.

The government needs to keeps their hands out of the cookie jar of ICBC, BCHydro, etc and just let them operate.

Not exactly, ICBC does not have to give everyone the cheapest rate or even mandatorily insure them. If someone does not like paying xxx amount of money due to having little driving experience or at-fault claims they go private insurance or take the bus.

[EvoFire]

I think the only reasonable step left for the province and ICBC is allow private companies to start selling basic 3rd party coverage, This way ICBC won't have to shell out the first 200k everytime anyone has a accident.

I know this may not be popular with some but ultimately we need a free market system for insurance and this way people without at fault claims get the best deal and not have to pay for people causing accident.

Also they should significantly increase price of anyone with more that 1 at-faults claim to discourage them from driving or force them to take mandatory driving lessons. This seems harsh but at the end of the day driving is not a right, much good can come if more people leave cars at home and take alternative transportation.

Just wondering, have you ever dealt with private insurance? I have and it was not pleasant. ICBC has it's faults, but I'd much rather deal with ICBC than any private insurance company.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'll bitch and moan about the high price of ICBC, but ultimately, having the the peace of mind knowing that no matter what, I'll be covered(barring me doing something stupidly illegal), is what INSURANCE is for.

[Timpo]

I hope you understand ICBC does the same. Its a business after all. Believe me I seen people have there insurance voided when they got into a accident while impaired. Private or public they outcome is the same.
Quick Google search will show you the answer.

According to the Criminal Code of Canada, you can have alcohol up to 0.08
According to the BC Motor Vehicle Act, you can have alcohol up to 0.05
According to ICBC, you can NOT drink & drive

CBA British Columbia - 190 (http://www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/Scripts/Automobiles/190)
Denied Insurance Coverage for Drinking and Driving - ICBC Advice Guide (http://www.mussiogoodman.com/icbc-claim-guide/icbc-insurance-breaches/icbc-denies-insurance-coverage-drinking-driving/)

So if you drink & drive and cause an accident, your ICBC insurance will be DENIED even if the police does not charge you for DUI because you were under the legal limit.

[Anjew]

Public audit of what the liberals did with the money they scooped up from ICBC instead.

[Adorkami]

Quick Google search will show you the answer.

According to the Criminal Code of Canada, you can have alcohol up to 0.08
According to the BC Motor Vehicle Act, you can have alcohol up to 0.05
According to ICBC, you can NOT drink & drive

CBA British Columbia - 190 (http://www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law/Scripts/Automobiles/190)
Denied Insurance Coverage for Drinking and Driving - ICBC Advice Guide (http://www.mussiogoodman.com/icbc-claim-guide/icbc-insurance-breaches/icbc-denies-insurance-coverage-drinking-driving/)

So if you drink & drive and cause an accident, your ICBC insurance will be DENIED even if the police does not charge you for DUI because you were under the legal limit.

From the site you provided:
"ICBC will often breach you of your contract of insurance despite the fact that the police do not charge you criminally with impaired driving but provide you with an administrative penalty."

A lawyer site trying to argue that you need to be at least .10 before impaired.

"In summary, despite the fact that the law requires ICBC to prove that alcohol consumption caused or contributed to an accident, ICBC ignores the law and in almost all situations will hold you in breach of your contract of insurance. Therefore, you are at the mercy of the police officer who may be overaggressive in providing an administrative penalty to you. The implication could be far greater than simply having to pay a fine for the impaired driving. You could be without insurance coverage and that could be a financial disaster."

[underscore]

lol what was up with the "new, upgraded" information system that ICBC recently did?

i've had more than a few insurance agents say it sucks and was actually a downgrade over the previous one.

Most of the insurance agents I've met don't seem like the most technologically savvy people, so at least initially I'd lean more towards it being their dislike of change than flaws in the system.

[vantrip]

Just wondering, have you ever dealt with private insurance? I have and it was not pleasant. ICBC has it's faults, but I'd much rather deal with ICBC than any private insurance company.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I'll bitch and moan about the high price of ICBC, but ultimately, having the the peace of mind knowing that no matter what, I'll be covered(barring me doing something stupidly illegal), is what INSURANCE is for.

But see thats exactly it, grass is always greener on the other side. I talked to a few people who had to file a claim on house or car with family insurance and they never had a problem they also said service is much better.

And how many times do we hear ICBC adjusters being unfair or low balling offers? Just because ICBC is a public insurance I don't think we can blindly trust them. That being said in 10 years I been diving I have only filed one glass claim and 2 fender benders that were other persons fault so I have not had a bad experience in any of these.

Its just matter of perspective I guess, people will always have good and bad experiences with both.

[nuttydave127]

The new system is a mix of good things and bad. The interface is literally step by step insurance for dummies system and is all point and click based for the most part. For some idiot learning for the first time it's a easy to use system. For a seasoned veteran that can pump out transactions in mere minutes ICBC has made it a longer process.

As far as we know the old system had 1 person left who was capable of fixing it and this new one is a system used at other insurance companies which has been re worked for how ICBC conducts business.

The system I feel has made the old steps a long process due to the point and click nature of the tasks. Its incredibly frustrating assisting clients now that have been use to the speed factor whereas now no matter how fast one goes we are held up by all the extra pointing and clicking and extra screens added.

[Yodamaster]

Meanwhile, the coming years will see a dramatic decline in accidents due to the increasing prevalence of anti-collision technology on the roads. Most new cars come equipped with auto-braking sensors that make rear-end collisions a thing of the past. As these new cars replace the old ones on the road, injury claims will no doubt dwindle.

Nicholas Parker, Vancouver

Or perhaps licenses shouldn't be handed out like candy to people who can't drive, generally a pilot's license isn't handed out to someone who can't fly based on some perverted sense of being owed such a privilege without showing merit. Driving around the block reveals absolutely nothing about how a driver will be able to handle a vehicle in an emergency, and yet that's all that is required to obtain the most basic license (L). Those kinds of standards are the laughing stock of the world, it is absolutely disgusting that people are allowed to handle multi thousand pound vehicles that could absolutely demolish a crowd of people based on how they can handle suburban cruising.

Then you see articles about how injury claims and repair costs are bankrupting ICBC, well no shit Sherlock, you've let some of the least qualified and under-prepared people in the world loose on the road, what did you expect?

[Timpo]

Or perhaps licenses shouldn't be handed out like candy to people who can't drive, generally a pilot's license isn't handed out to someone who can't fly based on some perverted sense of being owed such a privilege without showing merit. Driving around the block reveals absolutely nothing about how a driver will be able to handle a vehicle in an emergency, and yet that's all that is required to obtain the most basic license (L). Those kinds of standards are the laughing stock of the world, it is absolutely disgusting that people are allowed to handle multi thousand pound vehicles that could absolutely demolish a crowd of people based on how they can handle suburban cruising.

Then you see articles about how injury claims and repair costs are bankrupting ICBC, well no shit Sherlock, you've let some of the least qualified and under-prepared people in the world loose on the road, what did you expect?
People widely know that ICBC does NOT care about road safety or driver's ability.

In Japan for example, they take driving dead seriously. Same as Germany.
You MUST attend $3,500-$4,500 driving school.

I know for a fact that Japanese parents freak out when ICBC tells their kids that all they have to do is to find their buddy's older brother (as long as he's 25) and drive around on the road.

First and foremost, they will let you use the simulator.
Unlike with ICBC, you MUST be taught by government authorized instructor for whole time. No, not your friend.
http://hinomaru-ds.co.jp/gazou/g014-1.gif
http://articleimage.nicoblomaga.jp/image/23/2015/9/5/9546421470d7d532d64c5c9308d4440f184f83fa1431085914 .jpg

Mandatory standard: minimum 34 hours driving lesson & minimum 26 hours of in class lesson.

iIn class lesson, minimum 26 hours
http://www.hinomaru-ds.co.jp/gazou/g016-1.gif

Here's what typical driving school looks like.
Before you're permitted to go on the road with your instructor, you must complete technical ability test.
http://www.meitetsu.ac.jp/mdsl/images/home/img_mainphoto01.jpg
http://is-menkyo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9.jpg

Also, unlike ICBC standard, Emergency Maneuver is mandatory skill in Japan. The driving school will use these cars to simulate emergency maneuver during slippery road condition.
http://img-cdn.jg.jugem.jp/d25/616710/20141107_1224270.jpg
http://www.chusei-ds.com/gifs/vehicle_car_photo05.jpg

The exam will be 100 questions, but 5 of them will be scenario based questions with pictures on it.
The time limit will be 60 min for 95 questions and 30 min for 5 scenario questions. So 1 hr 30 min total.

oh yeah, and the License Renewal is another story too.
You must do quick retest and driving test to show your instructor you're still up to date. Comes with sight & hearing test.

Here in BC, all you have to do is pay ICBC $75 fee every 5 years and THAT'S IT. :lawl:
No re-test, no re-driving test, no sight & hearing test. NOTHING.
It doesn't matter if you're 81 year old, just pay the $75 fee and that's it.

This is only an example of Japan, I know Germany has very tough standard too, as they should.

[MG1]

Are there any C-Lai's driving in Japan or Germany?

[Timpo]

Are there any C-Lai's driving in Japan or Germany?I don't know, but my quick research shows followings;

Germany does NOT allow Chinese license, it has something to do with EU/EAA standard.
If you're from USA, depending on what state you're from, you may allowed to drive. Looks like they don't even allow Canadian license.
http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/EN/Documents/LA/driving-licence-provisions-fact-sheet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Japan does NOT allow Chinese license. It has something to do with the standard set by Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
However if you have Canadian license, you will get exempted from exam. So obviously Japan isn't as tough as Germany.
They do also recognize State of Maryland (USA) license as exam exempt.
???????????????????????????????? (http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.html)
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.files/en.pdf

[underscore]

In Japan for example, they take driving dead seriously. Same as Germany.

Population densities:
Japan - 336 ppl/km2
Germany - 234 ppl/km2
Canada - 4 ppl/km2

Having dedicated driving schools with classrooms and simulators and closed circuits is great and all, but it only really works when all your population is close together. It would cost a fortune to have all that set up in Canada.

[EvoFire]

I don't know, but my quick research shows followings;

Germany does NOT allow Chinese license, it has something to do with EU/EAA standard.
If you're from USA, depending on what state you're from, you may allowed to drive. Looks like they don't even allow Canadian license.
http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/EN/Documents/LA/driving-licence-provisions-fact-sheet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Japan does NOT allow Chinese license. It has something to do with the standard set by Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
However if you have Canadian license, you will get exempted from exam. So obviously Japan isn't as tough as Germany.
They do also recognize State of Maryland (USA) license as exam exempt.
???????????????????????????????? (http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.html)
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.files/en.pdf

Do you mean exchanging for a local license? I drove in Germany with my Canadian license and they don't seem to have a problem

[Timpo]

Do you mean exchanging for a local license? I drove in Germany with my Canadian license and they don't seem to have a problem

As I said, I don't know.

All I did was went on Google and found some info.