Comprehensive review of directives and regulations under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act

The insolvency regime

A well functioning insolvency regime, comprised in Canada of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Footnote i (BIA), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act Footnote ii (CCAA), the regulations that support each of these Acts, and directives from the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, is key to creditor and investor confidence and a well-functioning society and economy.  

The aim of the insolvency regime is to minimize the impact of a debtor’s insolvency on all stakeholders. It does this by pursuing the key objectives of the equitable and orderly distribution of the debtor’s assets and providing a fresh start for the debtor. It seeks to ensure these objectives by providing certainty in the marketplace to promote economic stability and growth and by striking the appropriate balance among competing interests.

Regulatory review

The Function of the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) is responsible for the administration of all estates and matters under the BIA, as well as certain aspects of the CCAA, including investigating complaints regarding the conduct of monitors. It licenses and regulates the insolvency profession, supervises compliance with the insolvency process, and maintains public records and statistics. These activities are vital to ensuring that the insolvency regime functions effectively such that it contributes to an efficient marketplace and promotes confidence in the Canadian economy. To reinforce these activities, the OSB provides detailed requirements through directives and forms and by developing regulations. Directives, forms and regulations contribute to the goal of increased predictability and are able to more nimbly reflect current realities of the insolvency system and the economy, all of which ultimately supports improved financial outcomes for Canadian consumers and businesses.

The objective of the regulatory review

The OSB is undertaking a comprehensive regulatory review to identify areas of Canada’s insolvency system that can be made more agile, transparent and responsive without jeopardizing the integrity of the system. The OSB will consider potential amendments to the regulatory framework, specifically the Superintendent’s directives, forms and regulations, to position the insolvency system for success now and in the future.

In this regulatory review, the OSB will strive for an outcome- and principle-based approach, where appropriate, while also maintaining a predictable, fair and level playing field for all stakeholders. The central theme will be to explore how the OSB can better deploy the tools within the scope of its authority to ensure that the insolvency system continues to function as intended and is able to effectively adapt in an ever-changing environment.

Consultation

The OSB is inviting stakeholders to contribute comments and suggestions on how to modernize and improve the regulatory framework, enhance the effectiveness of its administration, and increase accessibility to insolvency proceedings.

The OSB is interested in receiving submissions on topics that concern stakeholders. Previous feedback from the OSB’s continuing engagement with stakeholders, along with some OSB perspectives, are set out in the Annex. To encourage broad stakeholder input, this paper has been intentionally framed with high-level concepts.

A few areas on which the OSB would welcome comments include the following:

  • Modernization/Innovation

    Technological development presents opportunities for the insolvency system to leverage innovations and new processes to modernize the administration and regulation of the system. COVID-19 has accelerated the use of technological solutions such as electronic signatures and video or telephonic conferencing and meetings. For example, to accommodate physical distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the OSB issued temporary guidance allowing the use of electronic or digital communications without OSB approval for the purposes of conducting debtor assessments, providing counselling, and holding meetings of creditors.

    At the same time, technological innovation presents challenges. For example, the functioning and integrity of the insolvency system requires complete, transparent disclosure of debtors’ assets to facilitate fair repayment of creditors. However, the increased use of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets could pose challenges for trustees and creditors in terms of asset recovery and verification. Investment in cryptocurrency is growing and will likely continue to grow. Companies are purchasing Bitcoin as a reserve asset on their balance sheets and major financial services companies are making it easier for consumers to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies. The OSB is interested in assessing issues that technological innovations raise with respect to the insolvency system including the verification and realization of assets.

    We have prepared the following questions to help guide your submission:

    • What are the challenges and opportunities, including those brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic, that you, your firm, your sector, or consumers face? Could the use of technology and more efficient processes address these?
    • Which technologies could be leveraged to modernize the insolvency system? How could technology further reduce administrative burden, transaction costs, and increase efficiency?
    • Are there risks or concerns associated with the use of certain technologies?
    • Does technology present opportunities to more effectively verify whether a debtor has disclosed all of their assets and to verify and realize upon those assets?
    • Are there issues with regard to digital assets like cryptocurrency? What changes within the insolvency system could help address these issues?

  • Licensing Modernization

    With virtual service delivery, firms are adapting their business models to incorporate online options that better serve the public. The OSB is interested in assessing the impact of virtual service delivery on its licensing program and how the program could be modernized to encourage innovations that lead to service excellence. A focus on service delivery also includes an examination of the viability of other licensing models that allow a choice of the type of licence granted. For instance, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) candidate could choose a licence to administer either commercial or consumer estates, or a licence to administer both types of estates. Introducing these options may be beneficial to LITs who have interests and competencies that lend themselves toward specific areas, reduce barriers to entry, and improve representativeness. LITs will remain accountable for ensuring they can fulfill their mandate to the highest professional standards and debtor choice would be given prominence.

    We have prepared the following questions to help guide your submission:

    • Should licences be issued on a national basis? What opportunities and/or challenges would this create?
    • Should there be conditions to be met to qualify for a national licence? For instance, should there be a probationary period to allow for sufficient experience to be gained? If so, how long a period would be appropriate and why?
    • What office requirements should be considered with respect to a national licence? What benefits and/or challenges would this create?
    • Should LIT candidates have the option to apply for a consumer only, commercial only, or full licence? What opportunities and/or challenges would this create?

  • Consumer Protection

    The Canadian insolvency system seeks to offer honest but unfortunate consumer debtors a fresh start while maximizing returns to creditors. LITs are officers of the court who must carry out their functions honestly and impartially. They are bound by federal insolvency legislation and regulations. Other service providers within the debt advisory marketplace who are not trustees may be driven by profit motives to engage in practices that pose risks to the integrity of the insolvency system, impeding debtors from finding the right solutions for their financial situations. They are not subject to the same advertising restrictions that govern trustees, allowing them to engage in marketing activities that may create confusion for debtors or cause debtors to pay unnecessary and costly fees. The OSB is seeking stakeholders’ views on these issues and what actions, if any, should be considered.

    We have prepared the following questions to help guide your submission:

    • What business practices affecting the insolvency system, if any, expose consumers and creditors to potential harm?
    • How could regulatory changes within the insolvency system better protect consumers and creditors against these harms?
    • Are there compliance and enforcement activities that the OSB should consider to strengthen consumer protection and protect the integrity of the insolvency system?

  •  Accessibility to the Insolvency System

    Insolvency proceedings should be accessible, efficient, and cost-effective, particularly for low-income consumer debtors and micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), while still providing creditors adequate protection for their interests. The OSB is seeking input on potential opportunities to improve accessibility through regulatory changes that could streamline proceedings or reduce costs and other barriers to access.

    We have prepared the following questions to help guide your submission:

    • Could the summary process be further simplified for eligible low-income/low-asset estates? What checks and balances would be needed?
    • Could estate administrators perform the bulk of the work where the estate is largely administrative with LITs remaining accountable?
    • What would be a fair rate for a simple consumer estate if a debtor fully complies with their duties?
    • What would be a fair rate for a simple business estate if a debtor fully complies with its duties?
    • What characteristics of consumer or business estates would qualify them as simple?
    • Could changes in the fee structure associated with the administration of estates, or the waiver of fees in certain instances, serve to enhance accessibility?
    • In addition or alternately, could a pro bono program help to ensure the administration of services for low-income/low-asset estates?

Submissions

The OSB welcomes all suggestions on how to modernize the insolvency system through changes to directives, forms and regulations. Please be aware that legislative changes fall outside of the scope of this consultation. The OSB recognizes, however, that submissions relating to directives and regulations may suggest the need for legislative change. Such submissions will be shared for consideration with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada officials responsible for legislative policy with respect to the insolvency framework.

Please provide your feedback by June 10, 2021. Submissions are to be sent to OSB, Policy and Regulatory Affairs at ic.osbregulatoryaffairs-affairesreglementairesbsf.ic@canada.ca.

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Annex

Instrument

Stakeholder/OSB feedback previously received

Regulations (Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules)

 

Section 53 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (electronic transmission)

  • Allow for electronic submission of any complaints related to the Code of Ethic (s. 36 to 52) and remove the reference to the Division Office to allow more flexibility in how the complaints are to be received by the OSB.

Sections 60 and 62 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules

  • Streamline the process to address the potential delays related to taxation in Ordinary Administrations and Division I Proposals.

Sections 64 and 65 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (30-day Rule)

  • Amend BIA Rules 64 and 65(1) to repeal the requirement for LITs to wait 30 days after mailing the notice of Form 15 to draw their final fees. Historically, the 30-day rule was designed to allow creditors to object to the Trustee’s final Statement of Receipts and Disbursements before the Trustee was paid. The proposed amendment would not remove the ability of creditors to object to the LIT’s final SRD.

Section 68 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (Retention of files)

  • Currently, LITs are required to keep files for 4 years after the LIT’s discharge. Consider amending the requirement to 2 years after the LIT’s discharge given that the OSB has the majority of the information.

Sections 7 and 72, and subsections 70(2) and (3) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules

  • Update the Rules to add flexibility by allowing for electronic transmission of documents, where appropriate. This rule for serving documents may be outdated.

Paragraphs 64(2)(a), 66 (2)(a), 100(2)(a) and 102(2)(a), sections 94.1, 95, 113 and 124, and subsection 104(3) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (Registered mail)

  • Delete the requirement for registered mail.

  • Points raised:
  • Registered mail is expensive.
  • In Quebec, proceedings are allowed to be served via email along with an acknowledgement of receipt.
  • Consider using the provincial rules and/or subject to the court’s requirements, specify the LIT is accountable for the delivery.
  • Alternatively, consider deleting those where it makes more sense, e.g., requirement to send by registered mail, yet creditors appeal via email.
  • Keep the onus on the LIT for disallowances and bankruptcy orders.

Section 97 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (in person)

  • Clarify that an “in person” requirement can be satisfied by videoconference participation.

Section 105 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (mediation)

  • Provide the procedures governing the mediation if an opposition to discharge solely on grounds referred to in either one or both of paragraphs 173(1)(m) or (n) is withdrawn. In such a case, a bankrupt that was eligible for an automatic discharge before the opposition was filed could again be eligible for an automatic discharge.

Section 128 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (Trustee fees and disbursement)

  • LIT fees and disbursements have not kept pace with the cost of inflation (in particular labour and technology).
  • Increase the frequency of draws for administering personal bankruptcies, while not increasing the total amount of fees to: improve the LIT cash flow; serve creditors by encouraging LITs to make interim distributions; support OSB interests by providing earlier payments of the OSB Levy; and reduce the risk of LITs holding large sums of money in their Consolidated Trust Account.
  • Review the Rules surrounding disbursements in summary administrations and consumer proposals, especially since LITs incur a variety of non-discretionary, administrative costs in their duties to complete a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal.
  • Recommend that the OSB revise the administrative fee to $135, indexed annually for inflation.
  • Consider revising section 128 to establish an appropriate fee structure for low income/low asset debtors.

Section 131 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (Counselling Fees)

  • Increase the counselling fees to $140 per session and add an annual inflation adjustment as the counselling fees have not been increased since their inception in 2002.

Subsection 132(1) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency General Rules (Filing fees)

  • Change the deadline for filing fees from the 15th of the following month to the 30th of the following month. The additional time for payment avoids LITs having to lend money to the debtor’s account in order to cover the filing fees for people who file at the end of the month.

Regulations (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Regulations)

 

Schedule of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Regulations

  • Review forms to remove redundant information, streamline information, and increase data integrity, where appropriate.
  • Review forms to increase transparency regarding professional fees and allow for better information collection regarding interim financing.

Directives and circulars

 

Directive 1R6, Counselling in Insolvency Matters

  • Review the possibility of adding a third counselling session when deemed required by the LIT. (Consider a regulatory amendment for the additional fee associated with this counselling session).
  • Include financial literacy education and rehabilitation counselling in post-insolvency counselling to better rehabilitate insolvency debtors.

Directive 4R, Delegation of Tasks

  • Review this Directive in the context of low income/low asset debtors to determine whether additional tasks may be performed by the administrator or other employees of the LIT, particularly in support of an appropriate fee structure for low income/low asset debtors.

Directive 5R6, Estate Funds and Banking

  • Given advancements in technology, review the requirement to maintain individual estate bank accounts (for ordinary administrations and Division I Proposals).

Directive 6R3, Assessment of an Individual Debtor

  • Review the requirement that debtors are to attend the assessment in person. Consider other amendments, as necessary, to modernize and improve the assessment process.

Directive 7, Inventory of Estate Assets

  • While reviewing the related Directives 16R and 25, review this Directive to ensure consistency regarding requests for supporting documents to verify the statement of affairs.
  • Update the Directive in the context of low income/low asset debtors.
  • Assess the issues that technological innovations raise with respect to the insolvency system, including the verification and realization of assets related to assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Directive 9R3, Electronic Filing and Other Methods

  • Review the ability to file documents by fax and evaluate the alternatives to file documents by email or other methods to accommodate physical distancing.

Directive 11R2, Surplus Income

  • Standardize the requirement to provide supporting documents while reviewing the surplus income calculations completed by LITs.
  • Review the calculation of the surplus income as it has become a central issue in bankruptcy.
  • Add clarification for instances where the legislation explicitly excludes the amount from the calculation of the surplus income.

Directive 13R7, Trustee Licensing

  • Review the education requirement for LITs.
  • The requirement for resident and non-resident offices would need to be reviewed in light of the remote-service delivery model currently being studied by the OSB.
  • Assess the impact of the recent technological and operational innovations, taking into account evolving LIT business models, and debtors and creditors preferences for insolvency services.
  • Consider a bifurcated licensing process whereby a candidate could apply for a consumer only, commercial only, or full licence. The Oral Board would be adapted accordingly and the CQP could be updated to reflect this change as well.
Directive 16R, Preparation of the Statement of Affairs
  • Standardize the requirements regarding supporting documents to verify the statement of affairs.
  • Clarify what is an acceptable real property valuation and how to verify charges against the property.

Directive 17, Retention of Documents by the Trustee

  • Amend the retention requirement to 2 years after LIT discharge since the OSB has the information anyway.
  • Clarify the length of time for the retention of documentation related to Consolidated Trust Accounts.

Directive 20, Bankruptcy Assistance Program

  • Review the fees allotted to the LITs and provide a lower cost option to debtors with little or no income and assets.
  • Consider a pro bono program similar to those offered by other professions in replacement of the Bankruptcy Assistance Program.

Directive 23, Publication in Local Newspaper

  • Consider amending the requirement to allow electronic notifications. With the prevalence of online media, the general public and potential creditors, are already aware of the insolvency. LITs have advised that new creditors do not come forward after having read a newspaper notice. The concept of using the newspaper to alert creditors is no longer useful, particularly for consumer files.

Directive 25R, Realization of Estate Assets

  • Standardize the requirements regarding supporting documents to verify the statement of affairs.

Directive 28R, Non-resident Office

  • Review the requirements relating to resident or non-resident offices given the evolution of remote-service delivery with a view to empowering debtors to choose the LIT and service delivery method they prefer.

Directive 32, Trustee Electronic Recordkeeping

  • Clarify the length of time for the retention of documentation related to Consolidated Trust Accounts.

Directive 33, Trustee Designation and Advertising

  • Review and clarify the requirements related to advertising and co-location of LITs and counsellors.

Circular 3R3, Employment Insurance

  • Review the guidelines respecting the procedure to be followed in determining whether overpayments of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits are owed to Service Canada (SC) when individuals produce claims for unpaid salary to an LIT and, where applicable, the procedure to be followed for forwarding that payment to SC.

Forms

 

Directive 8R18, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Forms

  • Review forms to remove redundant information, streamline information and increase data integrity, where appropriate.
  • Add the ability to print amended forms, where appropriate. Stakeholders have suggested the option of adding the word “Original” or “Amended.”

Directive 34R, The Licensing Form Under Section 13(1) and 13.1 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act

  • Review the Licensing forms to ensure consistency between the paper form and OLAA.

Footnotes

Footnote i

R.S.C., 1985, c. B-3.

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Footnote ii

R.S.C., 1985, c. C-36.

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