I'm from BC and I'm happy with my insurance. I know older folks probably prefer private insurance since they may get lower rates through them. The maximum discount under base rate here is 43% for basic insurance and 48% for optional. So they could be paying maybe $1,500 a year after discount to insure a brand new Camry here with $300 comprehensive deductible, $500 collision deductible, and $2 mil 3rd party liability.
I'm at 40%/40% right now and pay $1,400 a year for my 07 Mazda 5 with the above coverage except with $3 mil 3rd party liability.
BTW, optional insurance is available through private companies as well such as Family, Canadian Direct, etc. I was with Canadian Direct for a few years, then my broker kinda screwed up getting me with Family Insurance, so now I just have ICBC for both basic and optional. I've had numerous claims with ICBC though and never had a problem. I have a 40% discount now through 8 years of safe driving (total experience 11 years, one at fault accident knocked three years off). Next year, I reach 43%/43% discount, and after that will gain 1% discount a year until I hit 43%/48%. When I hit my 13th year of safe driving, I automatically gain partial accident forgiveness where I will lose some of my optional discount but will retain 43% basic discount if I get into one at fault accident, not that I want to get into an accident or anything. At year 17, I gain full accident forgiveness. Collision deductible still applies.
