Insolvency Statistics in Canada—January 2023

Definitions

Bankruptcy
The state of a consumer or a business that has made an assignment in bankruptcy or against whom a bankruptcy order has been made.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA)
The federal act that provides the framework to file and administer insolvencies in Canada.
Business
Any commercial entity or organization other than an individual, or an individual who has incurred 50% or more of total liabilities as a result of operating a business.
Consumer
An individual with more than 50% of total liabilities related to consumer goods and services.
Corporation
A commercial entity or organization.
Individual Business
An individual who has incurred 50% or more of total liabilities as a result of operating a business.
North American Industry Classification System ( NAICS )
System that classifies economic units that have similar production processes in the same industry. This is a supply-based or production-oriented economic concept.
Proposal
An offer to creditors to settle debts under conditions other than the existing terms. A proposal is a formal agreement under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Note:

Monthly statistics for insolvency volumes tend to vary widely. Quarterly and annual statistics can be more indicative of the evolution of insolvency volume.

Table 1: Total BIA Insolvencies

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 139 150 120 -7.3 15.8 1,959 1,733 13.0
Bankruptcies
50 56 44 -10.7 13.6 690 648 6.5
Proposals
89 94 76 -5.3 17.1 1,269 1,085 17.0
Prince Edward Island 37 40 33 -7.5 12.1 450 389 15.7
Bankruptcies
12 14 14 -14.3 -14.3 169 173 -2.3
Proposals
25 26 19 -3.8 31.6 281 216 30.1
Nova Scotia 305 277 194 10.1 57.2 3,605 2,995 20.4
Bankruptcies
95 84 79 13.1 20.3 1,241 1,266 -2.0
Proposals
210 193 115 8.8 82.6 2,364 1,729 36.7
New Brunswick 228 230 212 -0.9 7.5 3,170 2,960 7.1
Bankruptcies
55 49 79 12.2 -30.4 1,024 1,224 -16.3
Proposals
173 181 133 -4.4 30.1 2,146 1,736 23.6
Quebec 2,356 1,812 1,969 30.0 19.7 27,765 25,183 10.3
Bankruptcies
804 685 815 17.4 -1.3 10,408 11,331 -8.1
Proposals
1,552 1,127 1,154 37.7 34.5 17,357 13,852 25.3
Ontario 3,164 2,854 2,246 10.9 40.9 36,560 30,745 18.9
Bankruptcies
606 608 499 -0.3 21.4 7,898 7,941 -0.5
Proposals
2,558 2,246 1,747 13.9 46.4 28,662 22,804 25.7
Manitoba 258 262 157 -1.5 64.3 2,908 2,494 16.6
Bankruptcies
71 73 36 -2.7 97.2 786 786 0.0
Proposals
187 189 121 -1.1 54.5 2,122 1,708 24.2
Saskatchewan 292 276 214 5.8 36.4 3,251 2,770 17.4
Bankruptcies
36 52 48 -30.8 -25.0 664 774 -14.2
Proposals
256 224 166 14.3 54.2 2,587 1,996 29.6
Alberta 1,387 1,204 975 15.2 42.3 15,524 13,976 11.1
Bankruptcies
218 181 189 20.4 15.3 2,536 2,750 -7.8
Proposals
1,169 1,023 786 14.3 48.7 12,988 11,226 15.7
British Columbia 891 875 646 1.8 37.9 10,565 8,757 20.6
Bankruptcies
173 158 143 9.5 21.0 1,956 2,182 -10.4
Proposals
718 717 503 0.1 42.7 8,609 6,575 30.9
Northwest Territories 3 5 8 -40.0 -62.5 53 53 0.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 4 8 -50.0
Proposals
2 5 8 -60.0 -75.0 49 45 8.9
Yukon 4 0 4 -- 0.0 49 35 40.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 7 8 -12.5
Proposals
3 0 4 -- -25.0 42 27 55.6
Nunavut 2 2 1 0.0 100.0 14 12 16.7
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 1 -100.0
Proposals
2 2 1 0.0 100.0 14 11 27.3
Canada 9,066 7,987 6,779 13.5 33.7 105,873 92,102 15.0
Bankruptcies
2,122 1,960 1,946 8.3 9.0 27,383 29,092 -5.9
Proposals
6,944 6,027 4,833 15.2 43.7 78,490 63,010 24.6

Table 2: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Consumers

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 139 150 120 -7.3 15.8 1,947 1,722 13.1
Bankruptcies
50 56 44 -10.7 13.6 680 638 6.6
Proposals
89 94 76 -5.3 17.1 1,267 1,084 16.9
Prince Edward Island 37 38 32 -2.6 15.6 448 384 16.7
Bankruptcies
12 13 13 -7.7 -7.7 168 169 -0.6
Proposals
25 25 19 0.0 31.6 280 215 30.2
Nova Scotia 300 273 193 9.9 55.4 3,574 2,980 19.9
Bankruptcies
90 83 78 8.4 15.4 1,220 1,255 -2.8
Proposals
210 190 115 10.5 82.6 2,354 1,725 36.5
New Brunswick 225 230 209 -2.2 7.7 3,144 2,946 6.7
Bankruptcies
52 49 76 6.1 -31.6 1,003 1,211 -17.2
Proposals
173 181 133 -4.4 30.1 2,141 1,735 23.4
Quebec 2,167 1,626 1,835 33.3 18.1 25,765 23,610 9.1
Bankruptcies
647 531 702 21.8 -7.8 8,740 10,034 -12.9
Proposals
1,520 1,095 1,133 38.8 34.2 17,025 13,576 25.4
Ontario 3,063 2,752 2,201 11.3 39.2 35,598 30,135 18.1
Bankruptcies
527 531 463 -0.8 13.8 7,197 7,494 -4.0
Proposals
2,536 2,221 1,738 14.2 45.9 28,401 22,641 25.4
Manitoba 257 261 154 -1.5 66.9 2,876 2,461 16.9
Bankruptcies
70 72 35 -2.8 100.0 769 761 1.1
Proposals
187 189 119 -1.1 57.1 2,107 1,700 23.9
Saskatchewan 289 270 211 7.0 37.0 3,194 2,721 17.4
Bankruptcies
36 49 45 -26.5 -20.0 633 737 -14.1
Proposals
253 221 166 14.5 52.4 2,561 1,984 29.1
Alberta 1,370 1,182 967 15.9 41.7 15,278 13,837 10.4
Bankruptcies
209 173 181 20.8 15.5 2,402 2,658 -9.6
Proposals
1,161 1,009 786 15.1 47.7 12,876 11,179 15.2
British Columbia 879 861 631 2.1 39.3 10,415 8,676 20.0
Bankruptcies
164 149 131 10.1 25.2 1,854 2,127 -12.8
Proposals
715 712 500 0.4 43.0 8,561 6,549 30.7
Northwest Territories 3 3 8 0.0 -62.5 51 53 -3.8
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 4 8 -50.0
Proposals
2 3 8 -33.3 -75.0 47 45 4.4
Yukon 4 0 4 -- 0.0 49 35 40.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 7 8 -12.5
Proposals
3 0 4 -- -25.0 42 27 55.6
Nunavut 2 2 1 0.0 100.0 14 12 16.7
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 1 -100.0
Proposals
2 2 1 0.0 100.0 14 11 27.3
Canada 8,735 7,648 6,566 14.2 33.0 102,353 89,572 14.3
Bankruptcies
1,859 1,706 1,768 9.0 5.1 24,677 27,101 -8.9
Proposals
6,876 5,942 4,798 15.7 43.3 77,676 62,471 24.3

Table 3: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Businesses

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 0 0 0 -- -- 12 11 9.1
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 10 10 0.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 2 1 100.0
Prince Edward Island 0 2 1 -100.0 -100.0 2 5 -60.0
Bankruptcies
0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 1 4 -75.0
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 1 1 0.0
Nova Scotia 5 4 1 25.0 400.0 31 15 106.7
Bankruptcies
5 1 1 400.0 400.0 21 11 90.9
Proposals
0 3 0 -100.0 -- 10 4 150.0
New Brunswick 3 0 3 -- 0.0 26 14 85.7
Bankruptcies
3 0 3 -- 0.0 21 13 61.5
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 5 1 400.0
Quebec 189 186 134 1.6 41.0 2,000 1,573 27.1
Bankruptcies
157 154 113 1.9 38.9 1,668 1,297 28.6
Proposals
32 32 21 0.0 52.4 332 276 20.3
Ontario 101 102 45 -1.0 124.4 962 610 57.7
Bankruptcies
79 77 36 2.6 119.4 701 447 56.8
Proposals
22 25 9 -12.0 144.4 261 163 60.1
Manitoba 1 1 3 0.0 -66.7 32 33 -3.0
Bankruptcies
1 1 1 0.0 0.0 17 25 -32.0
Proposals
0 0 2 -- -100.0 15 8 87.5
Saskatchewan 3 6 3 -50.0 0.0 57 49 16.3
Bankruptcies
0 3 3 -100.0 -100.0 31 37 -16.2
Proposals
3 3 0 0.0 -- 26 12 116.7
Alberta 17 22 8 -22.7 112.5 246 139 77.0
Bankruptcies
9 8 8 12.5 12.5 134 92 45.7
Proposals
8 14 0 -42.9 -- 112 47 138.3
British Columbia 12 14 15 -14.3 -20.0 150 81 85.2
Bankruptcies
9 9 12 0.0 -25.0 102 55 85.5
Proposals
3 5 3 -40.0 0.0 48 26 84.6
Northwest Territories 0 2 0 -100.0 -- 2 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 2 0 --
Yukon 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Nunavut 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Canada 331 339 213 -2.4 55.4 3,520  2,530  39.1
Bankruptcies
263 254 178 3.5 47.8 2,706  1,991  35.9
Proposals
68 85 35 -20.0 94.3 814 539 51.0

Table 3a: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Corporations

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 0 0 0 -- -- 0 4 -100.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 3 -100.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 1 -100.0
Prince Edward Island 0 2 1 -100.0 -100.0 2 2 0.0
Bankruptcies
0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 1 2 -50.0
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 1 0 --
Nova Scotia 3 1 0 200.0 -- 14 4 250.0
Bankruptcies
3 0 0 -- -- 9 3 200.0
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 5 1 400.0
New Brunswick 2 0 1 -- 100.0 12 9 33.3
Bankruptcies
2 0 1 -- 100.0 10 8 25.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 2 1 100.0
Quebec 173 166 116 4.2 49.1 1,742 1,377 26.5
Bankruptcies
148 141 105 5.0 41.0 1,513 1,183 27.9
Proposals
25 25 11 0.0 127.3 229 194 18.0
Ontario 71 65 26 9.2 173.1 629 431 45.9
Bankruptcies
63 54 22 16.7 186.4 521 344 51.5
Proposals
8 11 4 -27.3 100.0 108 87 24.1
Manitoba 0 0 2 -- -100.0 12 15 -20.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 7 10 -30.0
Proposals
0 0 2 -- -100.0 5 5 0.0
Saskatchewan 0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 12 16 -25.0
Bankruptcies
0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 6 13 -53.8
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 6 3 100.0
Alberta 10 7 3 42.9 233.3 119 81 46.9
Bankruptcies
5 5 3 0.0 66.7 76 58 31.0
Proposals
5 2 0 150.0 -- 43 23 87.0
British Columbia 8 6 9 33.3 -11.1 61 43 41.9
Bankruptcies
7 4 7 75.0 0.0 44 32 37.5
Proposals
1 2 2 -50.0 -50.0 17 11 54.5
Northwest Territories 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Yukon 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Nunavut 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Canada 267 248 159 7.7 67.9 2,603 1,982 31.3
Bankruptcies
228 206 140 10.7 62.9 2,187 1,656 32.1
Proposals
39 42 19 -7.1 105.3 416 326 27.6

Table 3b: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Individual Businesses

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 0 0 0 -- -- 12 7 71.4
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 10 7 42.9
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 2 0 --
Prince Edward Island 0 0 0 -- -- 0 3 -100.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 2 -100.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 1 -100.0
Nova Scotia 2 3 1 -33.3 100.0 17 11 54.5
Bankruptcies
2 1 1 100.0 100.0 12 8 50.0
Proposals
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 5 3 66.7
New Brunswick 1 0 2 -- -50.0 14 5 180.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 2 -- -50.0 11 5 120.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 3 0 --
Quebec 16 20 18 -20.0 -11.1 258 196 31.6
Bankruptcies
9 13 8 -30.8 12.5 155 114 36.0
Proposals
7 7 10 0.0 -30.0 103 82 25.6
Ontario 30 37 19 -18.9 57.9 333 179 86.0
Bankruptcies
16 23 14 -30.4 14.3 180 103 74.8
Proposals
14 14 5 0.0 180.0 153 76 101.3
Manitoba 1 1 1 0.0 0.0 20 18 11.1
Bankruptcies
1 1 1 0.0 0.0 10 15 -33.3
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 10 3 233.3
Saskatchewan 3 5 2 -40.0 50.0 45 33 36.4
Bankruptcies
0 2 2 -100.0 -100.0 25 24 4.2
Proposals
3 3 0 0.0 -- 20 9 122.2
Alberta 7 15 5 -53.3 40.0 127 58 119.0
Bankruptcies
4 3 5 33.3 -20.0 58 34 70.6
Proposals
3 12 0 -75.0 -- 69 24 187.5
British Columbia 4 8 6 -50.0 -33.3 89 38 134.2
Bankruptcies
2 5 5 -60.0 -60.0 58 23 152.2
Proposals
2 3 1 -33.3 100.0 31 15 106.7
Northwest Territories 0 2 0 -100.0 -- 2 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 2 0 --
Yukon 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Nunavut 0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Canada 64 91 54 -29.7 18.5 917 548 67.3
Bankruptcies
35 48 38 -27.1 -7.9 519 335 54.9
Proposals
29 43 16 -32.6 81.3 398 213 86.9

Table 4: BIA Insolvencies by NAICS Sectors

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
January 2023 December 2022 January 2022 Dec. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
Jan. 2022
to
Jan. 2023
01-31-2023 01-31-2022 % Change
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 17 6 7 183.3 142.9 87 53 64.2
Bankruptcies
13 5 5 160.0 160.0 70 44 59.1
Proposals
4 1 2 300.0 100.0 17 9 88.9
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction 3 3 4 0.0 -25.0 28 37 -24.3
Bankruptcies
1 1 4 0.0 -75.0 20 30 -33.3
Proposals
2 2 0 0.0 -- 8 7 14.3
Utilities 1 2 0 -50.0 -- 8 3 166.7
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 5 2 150.0
Proposals
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 3 1 200.0
Construction 44 54 29 -18.5 51.7 534 370 44.3
Bankruptcies
31 33 23 -6.1 34.8 365 277 31.8
Proposals
13 21 6 -38.1 116.7 169 93 81.7
Manufacturing 41 25 20 64.0 105.0 288 228 26.3
Bankruptcies
32 16 17 100.0 88.2 214 179 19.6
Proposals
9 9 3 0.0 200.0 74 49 51.0
Wholesale Trade 12 19 7 -36.8 71.4 157 99 58.6
Bankruptcies
10 16 5 -37.5 100.0 127 79 60.8
Proposals
2 3 2 -33.3 0.0 30 20 50.0
Retail Trade 41 49 23 -16.3 78.3 392 269 45.7
Bankruptcies
32 42 21 -23.8 52.4 328 213 54.0
Proposals
9 7 2 28.6 350.0 64 56 14.3
Transportation and Warehousing 20 28 19 -28.6 5.3 290 200 45.0
Bankruptcies
16 23 17 -30.4 -5.9 222 165 34.5
Proposals
4 5 2 -20.0 100.0 68 35 94.3
Information and Cultural Industries 10 5 2 100.0 400.0 78 37 110.8
Bankruptcies
10 5 1 100.0 900.0 53 30 76.7
Proposals
0 0 1 -- -100.0 25 7 257.1
Finance and Insurance 6 8 1 -25.0 500.0 45 44 2.3
Bankruptcies
3 7 1 -57.1 200.0 30 35 -14.3
Proposals
3 1 0 200.0 -- 15 9 66.7
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 13 10 5 30.0 160.0 124 114 8.8
Bankruptcies
11 8 5 37.5 120.0 99 82 20.7
Proposals
2 2 0 0.0 -- 25 32 -21.9
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 19 16 16 18.8 18.8 245 171 43.3
Bankruptcies
14 9 11 55.6 27.3 180 140 28.6
Proposals
5 7 5 -28.6 0.0 65 31 109.7
Management of Companies and Enterprises 6 7 7 -14.3 -14.3 81 68 19.1
Bankruptcies
4 4 6 0.0 -33.3 68 53 28.3
Proposals
2 3 1 -33.3 100.0 13 15 -13.3
Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services 7 14 12 -50.0 -41.7 173 149 16.1
Bankruptcies
3 10 8 -70.0 -62.5 117 110 6.4
Proposals
4 4 4 0.0 0.0 56 39 43.6
Educational Services 5 7 3 -28.6 66.7 37 28 32.1
Bankruptcies
5 5 2 0.0 150.0 31 22 40.9
Proposals
0 2 1 -100.0 -100.0 6 6 0.0
Health Care and Social Assistance 2 9 10 -77.8 -80.0 94 74 27.0
Bankruptcies
1 6 9 -83.3 -88.9 59 55 7.3
Proposals
1 3 1 -66.7 0.0 35 19 84.2
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 10 4 10 150.0 0.0 84 74 13.5
Bankruptcies
9 3 8 200.0 12.5 74 55 34.5
Proposals
1 1 2 0.0 -50.0 10 19 -47.4
Accommodation and Food Services 57 51 24 11.8 137.5 533 377 41.4
Bankruptcies
53 44 24 20.5 120.8 452 309 46.3
Proposals
4 7 0 -42.9 -- 81 68 19.1
Other Services (except Public Administration) 15 22 14 -31.8 7.1 230 130 76.9
Bankruptcies
13 17 11 -23.5 18.2 181 106 70.8
Proposals
2 5 3 -60.0 -33.3 49 24 104.2
Public Administration 2 0 0 -- -- 10 4 150.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 9 4 125.0
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 1 0 --
Canada 331 339 213 -2.4 55.4 3,518 2,529 39.1
Bankruptcies 263 254 178 3.5 47.8 2,704 1,990 35.9
Proposals 68 85 35 -20.0 94.3 814 539 51.0