Personal insolvencies in Canada have reached a four-year high, according to a recent report from the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CAIRP). The second quarter of the year saw a 12.4% increase in consumer insolvencies compared to the same period last year, while business insolvencies surged by an alarming 41.4%.
The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy reported 35,082 consumer insolvencies during the quarter, including both consumer proposals and bankruptcy filings. This level of insolvency has not been seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic, further underlining the ongoing financial struggles of Canadian households.
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Experts attribute this trend to a combination of factors, including persistent inflation, high interest rates, and mounting debt. André Bolduc, chair of CAIRP, notes that many Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck with no savings, forcing them to rely more heavily on credit.
The situation is particularly dire in Ontario, which experienced an 18.3% year-over-year increase in bankruptcy filings. On average, 386 Canadians filed for bankruptcy each day during the second quarter.
While consumer insolvencies are on the rise, business insolvencies have been trending upward for the past two years, with 1,541 cases reported in the recent quarter. Industries most affected include construction, transportation, warehousing, and administrative support services.
Some experts suggest that the current financial difficulties may be partly due to the government’s pandemic-era direct payment policies, which are now contributing to inflation. Despite a slight quarter-over-quarter decrease in business insolvencies, overall numbers remain high and could potentially increase further.
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