Explore Insolvency Trends Across Canada
The Insolvency Data Explorer is an interactive dashboard that allows users to explore Canadian consumer insolvency statistics by province, census metropolitan area (CMA), city, and Forward Sortation Area (FSA). The objective is to make public insolvency data easier to access, understand, and compare over time.
The dashboard is based on publicly available data published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB), the federal government agency responsible for administering Canada’s insolvency system. The data includes information on consumer bankruptcies and consumer proposals filed across Canada.
Whether you are a researcher, journalist, insolvency professional, lender, policy analyst, student, or simply someone interested in economic trends, the dashboard provides an easy way to examine how insolvency activity has changed over time and across different regions of the country.
What Is Consumer Insolvency?
Consumer insolvency occurs when an individual is unable to repay their debts as they become due. In Canada, the two most common formal insolvency proceedings are:
Consumer Proposals
A consumer proposal is a legally binding settlement between a debtor and their unsecured creditors. The debtor offers to repay a portion of the debt over time while retaining their assets.
Bankruptcies
Bankruptcy is a legal process that provides relief from overwhelming debt while offering creditors a structured method of recovery. Bankruptcy may be appropriate for an individual who cannot realistically repay their debts through a consumer proposal or other means.
Over the past decade, consumer proposals have become increasingly common relative to bankruptcies in many parts of Canada. The dashboard allows users to explore these trends at the national, provincial, metropolitan, city, and local levels.
Understanding the Geographic Areas
The dashboard supports several levels of geographic analysis:
- Province – Compare insolvency activity across Canadian provinces.
- Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) – Examine trends within major urban regions such as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax.
- City – Analyze insolvency activity for individual municipalities.
- Forward Sortation Area (FSA) – Review data based on the first three characters of many Canadian postal codes, such as H3Z in Montreal or V6B in Vancouver.
FSA-level analysis provides a more localized view of insolvency activity and can reveal trends that may not be visible when examining larger geographic areas.
How to Use the Dashboard
Use the dashboard to:
- Compare insolvency trends between regions.
- Analyze changes in consumer proposals and bankruptcies over time.
- Review historical insolvency activity.
- Identify areas experiencing unusually high or low insolvency levels.
- Explore long-term economic and financial trends affecting Canadian households.
The dashboard includes charts, rankings, and summary statistics designed to help users better understand insolvency activity within their selected area.
Interactive Dashboard
If the dashboard does not display correctly on your device, you may open it directly on shinyapps.io. To open the dashboard:
About the Data
The information presented in this dashboard is derived from public insolvency statistics published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB). The OSB is part of the Government of Canada and is responsible for supervising the administration of bankruptcies, consumer proposals, and other insolvency proceedings under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
The data is compiled and organized to make local and regional insolvency trends easier to analyze. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, users should refer to official OSB publications for authoritative information.
Why Insolvency Statistics Matter
Consumer insolvency statistics provide valuable insight into the financial health of Canadian households. Changes in insolvency activity may reflect broader economic conditions such as:
- Employment trends
- Interest rates
- Inflation
- Housing costs
- Consumer debt levels
- Regional economic conditions
Monitoring insolvency trends can help identify emerging financial pressures affecting consumers and communities across Canada.
Related Resources
If you are interested in learning more about Canadian insolvency law and practice, you may also wish to explore the BIA Navigator available on this website. BIA Navigator is an AI-powered research tool designed to help users navigate the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, directives, forms, rules, and related insolvency resources.
Disclaimer
This dashboard is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, accounting, or insolvency advice. Users should not rely on the information presented as a substitute for professional advice tailored to their particular circumstances.
Although the underlying data originates from public sources believed to be reliable, no representation or warranty is made regarding completeness, accuracy, or suitability for any particular purpose.