Premier Klein's Tories presented Albertans with yet another done deal last week, this time on auto insurance. Alberta's closed, secretive government makes sure that real debate on real issues never makes its way into the Legislature for a real vote. In Alberta, policy decisions on car insurance - and health care and education and every other topic relevant to our daily lives - are made behind the closed doors of Standing Policy Committees. Only Tory MLAs serve on these Committees, and only they know who voted which way on which issue.

Tory MLAs met in secret and emerged with a plan for a new bureaucracy to regulate and control car insurance premiums. A $4,000 limit on compensation for pain and suffering for "minor injuries" will supposedly help Albertans save $200 million per year on car insurance premiums.

While limiting compensation which accident victims can receive for pain and suffering, the Alberta government continues to collect a 3% hidden sales tax on every car insurance policy sold in Alberta. Considering the fact that car insurance premiums pay for victims' compensation, this practice has been described as "tax-pimping" on the horrible results of car accidents.

Under the government's new scheme, some drivers might see a 5% reduction in their car insurance premiums. However, more of their tax dollars will be needed to pay for more bureaucracy to administer a new system which bans "discrimination" on the basis of age, gender, and marital status. How much will it cost taxpayers to administer a new system which guarantees Alberta drivers "fair" and "affordable" insurance while still - miraculously - preserving private sector competition Are bureaucrats better equipped to identify and reward "good drivers" than insurance adjusters Is it fair to good and experienced drivers that their premiums subsidize a new cap on rates enjoyed by inexperienced drivers and those with recent at-fault claims

Scrapping the 3% tax on insurance would save Albertans $165 million per year - over $200 per family. This $165 million is not far off from the $200 million in savings which the government claims will result from its new car insurance scheme. Besides, if the cost of running the new scheme were $35 million per year, those $200 million in claimed savings would already be reduced down to $165 million. Why not just scrap the 3% tax

How did your MLA vote on this new car insurance scheme You will never know. It's impossible for Albertans to know whether their Tory MLA voted for or against the $4,000 cap on compensation. Nor will you ever know whether your MLA spoke out against Alberta's 3% sales tax on insurance policies. Nor can you know for sure what your MLA really said about the teacher's strike last year, or what she or he says now about the health care premium tax. In Alberta, every major decision is made behind the closed doors of the Progressive Conservative caucus, or behind the closed doors of a Standing Policy Committee, or behind the closed doors of the Premier's office.

Perhaps the government's new plan on car insurance will work well.

But transparency, democracy and accountability are not working well in Alberta.