Generally speaking, the Bankruptcy Insolvency Act (BIA) is a federal statute that governs bankruptcy, consumer proposals and receiverships in Canada. It provides relief to the honest, but unfortunate debtor from the crushing burden of debt so they can get a fresh start.
Bankruptcy provides a mechanism for the orderly liquidation of a bankrupt’s estate and the distribution of the values of the assets in the estate for the benefit of creditors.
A Consumer Proposal allows for the negotiation of reduced balances or amended payment terms. For individual debtors a consumer proposal allows for the repayment of a portion of the debt and allows the debtor to avoid bankruptcy. For businesses, a consumer proposal allows the company to reorganize their debts and devise a business plan that is acceptable to creditors. For some businesses, it allows them to restructure debt in an orderly and equitable fashion. It also allows the business to make plans for the continuation of that business.
The BIA also provides for:
Investigation into the affairs of the bankrupt.
The setting aside of preferences and fraudulent transactions.
Rehabilitation of the bankrupt through mandatory counseling.
The submission of creditors’ claims and the priority of those claims.
The equitable distribution to creditors of funds realized through the liquidation of the bankrupt’s assets, subject to the rights or preferred and secured creditors.
The BIA also sets out the powers, duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in the process, with oversight of the Courts.
Therefore, bankruptcy in Ontario looks the same no matter where you go because it’s legislated. You’re not going to find a better “deal” somewhere else.
