Transitional Provisions — Explanatory Note

November 6, 2009

Revisions to the "Transitional Provisions — Explanatory Note" document

It has been brought to our attention that some of the items in Table 1 and Figure 1 of the OSB's document, "Transitional Provisions — Explanatory Note," are inaccurate. Accordingly, the OSB has consulted with its counsel at Industry Canada Legal Services and has revised the document.

Please note that the "Introduction" and "Summary" of the document continue to be accurate.

In this updated version of the document, the OSB has corrected the errors found in Table 1, expanded on the examples and made the text more comprehensive and descriptive (e.g. by including section references to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act) in order to clearly reflect the legislative amendments. In addition, Figure 1 has been removed from the document.

Enquiries

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the OSB office nearest you.

James Callon
Superintendent of Bankruptcy

Introduction

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) has developed this summary to ensure that the transitional provisions are clearly understood. Please note that this is an explanatory overview only. Please refer directly to s.107 and s.110 of Chapter 36 of the Statutes of Canada, 2007 (c.36) for a more comprehensive understanding of the transitional provisions. These sections also apply to provisions that came into force as of July 7, 2008.

The transitional provisions provide that the amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) apply only to a person who, on or after the coming into force date of the amendments, is described in one of (a) – (f) below:

(a) the person becomes bankrupt;
(b) the person files a notice of intention;
(c) the person files a proposal without having filed a notice of intention;
(d) a proposal is made in respect of the person without the person having filed a notice of intention;
(e) an interim receiver is appointed in respect of the person's property and all or part of the person's property comes into the possession or under the control of the interim receiver; or
(f) all or part of the person's property comes into the possession or under the control of a receiver.

As such, to determine whether the amendments apply to a particular insolvency file, the question that needs to be asked is whether one of the "triggering events" described in (a) – (f) above occurred on or after the coming into force date.

Summary

1) For insolvency proceedings that exist as of the coming into force date, the transitional provisions are clear. Unless one of triggering events (a) – (f) above occurs on or after the coming into force date, the amendments do not apply.

2) For any new insolvency filing on or after the coming into force date of the amendments, the rule is clear — the amendments apply. Why? Because one of triggering events (a) – (f) above occurred after the coming into force date. For example, a person becomes bankrupt after the coming into force date of the amendments. The triggering event is (a) above.

3) For insolvency proceedings that change status over time, the question that needs to be asked is: Did one of triggering events (a) – (f) above occur on or after the coming into force date? If the answer is "yes", the amendments apply. If the answer is "no", the amendments do not apply.

Table 1 provides some examples that help illustrate situations in which triggering events (a) – (f) above result in the amendments applying to the person (post-coming into force) and situations in which there is no triggering event and, as such, the amendments would not apply to the person (pre-coming into force).

Transitional provisions for amendments to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (s.111 of Chapter 36) apply to a debtor company in respect of whom proceedings commence under that Act on or after the coming into force.

If further explanation is required, please contact the OSB via email.

Table 1

[1] All section references refer to sections of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). (Return to reference 1)

[2] Table 1 should be read in conjunction with the "Introduction" and "Summary." (Return to reference 2)