Yesterday, Interim Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson tried to claim “there's been no promises made by me at all” on car insurance.

But his own signature on a letter to personal injury lawyers tells a different story, specifically committing to overhauling BC’s car insurance system within a year.

And a subsequent news release from the Conservatives appears to confirm the commitment in Doerkson’s letter, even after Doerkson attempted to deny it.

British Columbians are left with no answers why or how the letter came to be, if he knew how much it would cost drivers when he signed it, how his system would work, whether he received any support from the trial lawyers in exchange, why he didn’t tell British Columbians before the private industry groups, or why he subsequently tried to deny making the specific promises in the letter that bears his signature.

Some early reaction to Doerkson’s secret deal:

“Major fiasco BC Conservatives halfway point of campaign. Secret letter tells lawyers, industry insiders plans for auto insurance before telling public. Assuming letter won't be leaked. Saying "everything is on table." Doerkson has some explaining to do.” - Vaughn Palmer

“His written commitment to “replace” no-fault is not a promise for study, deliberation and consultation with the public — it’s a promise to act in a certain way should the Conservatives win power. And it’s made directly to a sector of personal injury lawyers that stand to make millions of dollars from the decision.” - Rob Shaw

“His response today, not really clarifying their situation, basically saying the current system right now is not fair to those who get seriously injured, but certainly not dismissing allegations from NDP about rates or about privatization.” - Keith Baldrey

“Why are you specifically writing to the legal industry and promising them hundreds of millions of dollars worth of work? This is the business line that you're promising to them.” - Les Leyne

“The next is also one that I found a little bit concerning, where it says: We will build this legislation with the people who know the system best. Lawyers, insurers, ICBC. Just the fact that the lawyers were the very first group that they mentioned in terms of people who know the system best. That causes me some concern here.” - Simi Sara

“I would love to talk to the BC Conservatives about this, the leader Lorne Doerkson in particular, but they have not yet come up with any kind of discussion on this. We asked, they didn't respond. As Vaughn Palmer pointed out earlier though, they will definitely have to answer questions about it today during a media availability because this is what I think the media is going to be asking about.” - Simi Sara