Insurance watchdog hopes work will continue under Liberals

New Brunswick's insurance watchdog says he is hoping to be able to continue his work under the new Liberal government.

The former government said in April the insurance advocate's position was under review.

Consumer Advocate for Insurance Ronald Godin says he was told outright his Bathurst office would be closed when his term ends in December.

"Insurance issues would be part of the new Financial and Consumer Services Commission, the new commission that has been set up and operates out of Saint John, with a sub-office in Fredericton," Godin said.

Then-justice minister Troy Lifford told CBC News the closure wasn't official, but that it was under review.

Godin, who started in 2005 in the wake of the auto insurance crisis, estimates his office handles up to 1,500 consumer complaints every year.

Decision by Dec. 30

Several Liberal MLAs in the Bathurst region are lobbying to keep the office in place.

"We want that office to stay in Bathurst because the thing we're scared of right now — it's the house, the residence, the price of the insurance that — I hope not, but we're expecting it will raise during the next coming years," said Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore​ MLA Denis Landry.

He says the consumer advocate was an issue often brought up during his campaign door-to-door this fall.

The four well-paid full-time jobs and one part-time position would also be a hard loss for the community, said Landry, who is also the minister of human resources and natural resources.

"I brought that to the premier's office and my colleagues are aware of that and we'll have to take a decision before the 30th of December."

In the meantime, the possible closure is top-of-mind for staff, said Sandra Godin, the assistant consumer advocate.

"It's a big weight on our shoulders. The morale, well, we're a good staff, we try to keep the morale up, but we talk about it every day," she said.