Insolvency law of Canada explained

The Parliament of Canada has exclusive jurisdiction to regulate matters relating to bankruptcy and insolvency, by virtue of Section 91(2) of the Constitution Act, 1867. It has passed the following statutes as a result:

• The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act ("BIA") ^[1]

• The Companies' Creditors Arrangements Act ("CCAA") ^[2]

• The Farm Debt Mediation Act ^[3]

• The Wage Earner Protection Program Act ^[4]

• The Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (which essentially applies only to financial institutions under federal jurisdiction) ^[5]

In applying these statutes, provincial law has important consequences. Section 67(1)(b) of the BIA provides that "any property that as against the bankrupt is exempt from execution or seizure under any laws applicable in the province within which the property is situated and within which the bankrupt resides".

Provincial legislation under the property and civil rights power of the Constitution Act, 1867 regulates the resolution of financial difficulties that occur before the onset of insolvency. Notable legislation is in effect for governing:

• creation of security interests (with notable caveats)^{[6] [7]}
• absconding debtors^[8]
• bulk sales (in Ontario only)^[9]
• fraudulent conveyances^[10]
• relief of creditors^[11]
• seizure of assets^[12]
• assignments and preferences^[13]

Administration of insolvency law

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy is charged with the administration of the BIA and the CCAA.^[14] All records relating to matters under those Acts are accessible at their website.^[15] The Office also licenses insolvency trustees (LITs), who are authorized to:

• administer estates of bankrupts

• handle consumer and commercial proposals in order to forestall an assignment in bankruptcy

• act as a monitor under the CCAA

• act as a receiver under Part XI of the BIA, to take possession and administer property as a consequence of provisions in a security agreement or by virtue of any federal or provincial law that authorizes the appointment of a receiver or receiver-manager

See also

• Commercial insolvency in Canada
• Consumer bankruptcy in Canada
• Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. B-3) . August 25, 2011.
2. Web site: Companies' Creditors Arrangements Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-36) . August 25, 2011.
3. Web site: Farm Debt Mediation Act (S.C. 1997, c. 21) . August 25, 2011.
4. Web site: Wage Earner Protection Program Act (S.C. 2005, c. 47, s.1)) . August 25, 2011.
5. Web site: Winding-up and Restructuring Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. W-11) . August 25, 2011.
6. Web site: John R. Sandrelli, Christopher J. Ramsay and Anjili I. Bahadoorsingh . Remedies under Security Interests in Canada: An Overview . . 2002-09-18 . 2011-09-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329040825/http://www.fmc-law.com/upload/en/publications/archive/12619_Remedies_under_Security_IBA_pdf.PDF . 2012-03-29 .
7. Web site: Federal Security Interests: Contract #99-08-2 . Fraser Milner Casgrain under contract to the Law Commission of Canada. June 2000 . 2011-09-14.
8. Web site: Absconding Debtors Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990, c. A.2 . 24 July 2014.
9. Web site: Bulk Sales Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990, c. B.14 . 24 July 2014.
10. Web site: Fraudulent Conveyances Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990, c. F.29 . 24 July 2014.
11. Web site: Creditors' Relief Act, 2010 (Ontario), S.O. 2010, c. 16, Sch. 4 . 24 July 2014.
12. Web site: Execution Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990, c. E.24 . 24 July 2014.
13. Web site: Assignments and Preferences Act (Ontario), R.S.O. 1990, c. A.33 . 2011-09-13.
14. Web site: Basic Concepts . 15 September 2005 . Office of Superintendent of Bankruptcy . August 25, 2011.
15. Web site: Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada - Home . 19 August 2002 . August 25, 2011.