Review of Insolvency Counselling
(for consumer debtors)
As part of the review of insolvency counselling, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy is soliciting comments from individuals who filed a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal between March 2011 and February 2012. The objective of the review is to ensure that insolvency counselling, required under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, continues to respond to current needs.
Insolvency Counselling
Introduced in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in 1992, insolvency counselling is delivered by trustees and qualified insolvency counsellors. Individuals who have filed a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal must attend two insolvency counselling sessions.
The objective of the insolvency counselling sessions is to educate debtors on good financial management practices (such as prudent use of consumer credit and budgeting principles), to help them develop successful strategies for achieving financial goals and overcoming financial setbacks, and, where appropriate, to offer referrals to deal with non-budgetary causes of insolvency (such as gambling, addiction, and marital or family problems).
Survey
Randomly selected individuals are being invited, by letter, to participate in a 10-minute survey. Participation is voluntary and will not affect the treatment of these individuals’ insolvency file.
The survey will be administered by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd., an independent survey company. Malatest will be contacting individuals by telephone between September 27 and November 28, 2012.
If they prefer, individuals who received a letter may
- Contact Malatest directly at 1-855-688-1142 (toll free)
- Go online (link and personal access code indicated in the letter)
Trustees and qualified insolvency counsellors are also being invited to participate in the review of insolvency counselling by completing a different survey.
Privacy
Any information provided in response to the survey will be used solely for the purpose of assessing insolvency counselling services. Personal information collected through the survey will be protected under the Privacy Act. Any report produced will include only aggregate or summarized data and will not attribute comments to any identifiable individuals.
Results of the survey
The first phase of the insolvency counselling review is an evaluation that includes the two surveys. Results of the evaluation will be available in the summer of 2013. A link to the report will be posted on the Consultation and Review page.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Malatest by telephone at 1-855-688-1142 (toll free) or by email.
