Insolvency Statistics in Canada—March 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
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 215 168 164 28.0 31.1 2,033 1,723 18.0
Bankruptcies
65 64 56 1.6 16.1 720 625 15.2
Proposals
150 104 108 44.2 38.9 1,313 1,098 19.6
Prince Edward Island 54 36 44 50.0 22.7 462 395 17.0
Bankruptcies
14 12 21 16.7 -33.3 163 175 -6.9
Proposals
40 24 23 66.7 73.9 299 220 35.9
Nova Scotia 412 301 293 36.9 40.6 3,808 2,908 30.9
Bankruptcies
125 86 107 45.3 16.8 1,266 1,188 6.6
Proposals
287 215 186 33.5 54.3 2,542 1,720 47.8
New Brunswick 327 266 319 22.9 2.5 3,229 2,940 9.8
Bankruptcies
79 87 108 -9.2 -26.9 1,004 1,166 -13.9
Proposals
248 179 211 38.5 17.5 2,225 1,774 25.4
Quebec 3,330 2,631 2,640 26.6 26.1 28,976 25,117 15.4
Bankruptcies
1,082 864 1,022 25.2 5.9 10,509 11,031 -4.7
Proposals
2,248 1,767 1,618 27.2 38.9 18,467 14,086 31.1
Ontario 4,178 3,245 3,180 28.8 31.4 38,197 30,824 23.9
Bankruptcies
792 608 725 30.3 9.2 8,000 7,809 2.4
Proposals
3,386 2,637 2,455 28.4 37.9 30,197 23,015 31.2
Manitoba 338 244 241 38.5 40.2 3,064 2,500 22.6
Bankruptcies
68 68 58 0.0 17.2 823 751 9.6
Proposals
270 176 183 53.4 47.5 2,241 1,749 28.1
Saskatchewan 345 284 313 21.5 10.2 3,349 2,765 21.1
Bankruptcies
71 45 79 57.8 -10.1 649 730 -11.1
Proposals
274 239 234 14.6 17.1 2,700 2,035 32.7
Alberta 1,779 1,389 1,371 28.1 29.8 16,138 13,960 15.6
Bankruptcies
258 218 233 18.3 10.7 2,580 2,639 -2.2
Proposals
1,521 1,171 1,138 29.9 33.7 13,558 11,321 19.8
British Columbia 1,207 954 939 26.5 28.5 11,041 8,864 24.6
Bankruptcies
203 156 169 30.1 20.1 1,981 2,072 -4.4
Proposals
1,004 798 770 25.8 30.4 9,060 6,792 33.4
Northwest Territories 9 3 6 200.0 50.0 52 62 -16.1
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 4 8 -50.0
Proposals
8 3 6 166.7 33.3 48 54 -11.1
Yukon 7 4 3 75.0 133.3 55 36 52.8
Bankruptcies
3 1 2 200.0 50.0 9 8 12.5
Proposals
4 3 1 33.3 300.0 46 28 64.3
Nunavut 2 1 0 100.0 -- 17 11 54.5
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 1 1 0.0
Proposals
1 1 0 0.0 -- 16 10 60.0
Canada 12,203 9,526 9,513 28.1 28.3 110,421 92,105 19.9
Bankruptcies
2,762 2,209 2,580 25.0 7.1 27,709 28,203 -1.8
Proposals
9,441 7,317 6,933 29.0 36.2 82,712 63,902 29.4

Table 2: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Consumers

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 214 166 164 28.9 30.5 2,019 1,712 17.9
Bankruptcies
65 62 56 4.8 16.1 709 615 15.3
Proposals
149 104 108 43.3 38.0 1,310 1,097 19.4
Prince Edward Island 54 36 44 50.0 22.7 460 390 17.9
Bankruptcies
14 12 21 16.7 -33.3 162 171 -5.3
Proposals
40 24 23 66.7 73.9 298 219 36.1
Nova Scotia 410 299 290 37.1 41.4 3,780 2,890 30.8
Bankruptcies
123 85 105 44.7 17.1 1,245 1,178 5.7
Proposals
287 214 185 34.1 55.1 2,535 1,712 48.1
New Brunswick 325 263 317 23.6 2.5 3,202 2,922 9.6
Bankruptcies
78 86 106 -9.3 -26.4 984 1,150 -14.4
Proposals
247 177 211 39.5 17.1 2,218 1,772 25.2
Quebec 3,067 2,451 2,456 25.1 24.9 26,865 23,504 14.3
Bankruptcies
880 723 876 21.7 0.5 8,763 9,705 -9.7
Proposals
2,187 1,728 1,580 26.6 38.4 18,102 13,799 31.2
Ontario 4,064 3,172 3,089 28.1 31.6 37,219 30,125 23.5
Bankruptcies
703 550 664 27.8 5.9 7,263 7,308 -0.6
Proposals
3,361 2,622 2,425 28.2 38.6 29,956 22,817 31.3
Manitoba 333 240 237 38.8 40.5 3,029 2,468 22.7
Bankruptcies
65 65 56 0.0 16.1 804 727 10.6
Proposals
268 175 181 53.1 48.1 2,225 1,741 27.8
Saskatchewan 339 279 306 21.5 10.8 3,292 2,721 21.0
Bankruptcies
68 43 74 58.1 -8.1 621 700 -11.3
Proposals
271 236 232 14.8 16.8 2,671 2,021 32.2
Alberta 1,759 1,370 1,354 28.4 29.9 15,891 13,807 15.1
Bankruptcies
244 202 222 20.8 9.9 2,442 2,537 -3.7
Proposals
1,515 1,168 1,132 29.7 33.8 13,449 11,270 19.3
British Columbia 1,186 938 929 26.4 27.7 10,878 8,773 24.0
Bankruptcies
187 146 159 28.1 17.6 1,870 2,008 -6.9
Proposals
999 792 770 26.1 29.7 9,008 6,765 33.2
Northwest Territories 8 3 6 166.7 33.3 49 62 -21.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 3 8 -62.5
Proposals
8 3 6 166.7 33.3 46 54 -14.8
Yukon 7 4 3 75.0 133.3 55 36 52.8
Bankruptcies
3 1 2 200.0 50.0 9 8 12.5
Proposals
4 3 1 33.3 300.0 46 28 64.3
Nunavut 2 1 0 100.0 -- 17 11 54.5
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 1 1 0.0
Proposals
1 1 0 0.0 -- 16 10 60.0
Canada 11,768 9,222 9,195 27.6 28.0 106,756 89,421 19.4
Bankruptcies
2,431 1,975 2,341 23.1 3.8 24,876 26,116 -4.7
Proposals
9,337 7,247 6,854 28.8 36.2 81,880 63,305 29.3

Table 3: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Businesses

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 1 2 0 -50.0 -- 14 11 27.3
Bankruptcies
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 11 10 10.0
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 3 1 200.0
Prince Edward Island 0 0 0 -- -- 2 5 -60.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 1 4 -75.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 1 1 0.0
Nova Scotia 2 2 3 0.0 -33.3 28 18 55.6
Bankruptcies
2 1 2 100.0 0.0 21 10 110.0
Proposals
0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 7 8 -12.5
New Brunswick 2 3 2 -33.3 0.0 27 18 50.0
Bankruptcies
1 1 2 0.0 -50.0 20 16 25.0
Proposals
1 2 0 -50.0 -- 7 2 250.0
Quebec 263 180 184 46.1 42.9 2,111 1,613 30.9
Bankruptcies
202 141 146 43.3 38.4 1,746 1,326 31.7
Proposals
61 39 38 56.4 60.5 365 287 27.2
Ontario 114 73 91 56.2 25.3 978 699 39.9
Bankruptcies
89 58 61 53.4 45.9 737 501 47.1
Proposals
25 15 30 66.7 -16.7 241 198 21.7
Manitoba 5 4 4 25.0 25.0 35 32 9.4
Bankruptcies
3 3 2 0.0 50.0 19 24 -20.8
Proposals
2 1 2 100.0 0.0 16 8 100.0
Saskatchewan 6 5 7 20.0 -14.3 57 44 29.5
Bankruptcies
3 2 5 50.0 -40.0 28 30 -6.7
Proposals
3 3 2 0.0 50.0 29 14 107.1
Alberta 20 19 17 5.3 17.6 247 153 61.4
Bankruptcies
14 16 11 -12.5 27.3 138 102 35.3
Proposals
6 3 6 100.0 0.0 109 51 113.7
British Columbia 21 16 10 31.3 110.0 163 91 79.1
Bankruptcies
16 10 10 60.0 60.0 111 64 73.4
Proposals
5 6 0 -16.7 -- 52 27 92.6
Northwest Territories 1 0 0 -- -- 3 0 --
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 1 0 --
Proposals
0 0 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 435 304 318 43.1 36.8 3,665 2,684 36.5
Bankruptcies
331 234 239 41.5 38.5 2,833 2,087 35.7
Proposals
104 70 79 48.6 31.6 832 597 39.4

Table 3a: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Corporations

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % 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 0 0 -- -- 2 2 0.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 1 2 -50.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 1 0 --
Nova Scotia 1 0 2 -- -50.0 10 7 42.9
Bankruptcies
1 0 1 -- 0.0 9 2 350.0
Proposals
0 0 1 -- -100.0 1 5 -80.0
New Brunswick 1 1 1 0.0 0.0 13 10 30.0
Bankruptcies
1 1 1 0.0 0.0 11 9 22.2
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 2 1 100.0
Quebec 234 156 162 50.0 44.4 1,846 1,408 31.1
Bankruptcies
189 133 134 42.1 41.0 1,598 1,205 32.6
Proposals
45 23 28 95.7 60.7 248 203 22.2
Ontario 74 48 49 54.2 51.0 650 472 37.7
Bankruptcies
62 45 38 37.8 63.2 555 372 49.2
Proposals
12 3 11 300.0 9.1 95 100 -5.0
Manitoba 2 1 1 100.0 100.0 12 16 -25.0
Bankruptcies
2 0 1 -- 100.0 6 12 -50.0
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 6 4 50.0
Saskatchewan 0 1 1 -100.0 -100.0 11 9 22.2
Bankruptcies
0 0 1 -- -100.0 4 6 -33.3
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 7 3 133.3
Alberta 9 11 6 -18.2 50.0 122 83 47.0
Bankruptcies
8 10 6 -20.0 33.3 81 61 32.8
Proposals
1 1 0 0.0 -- 41 22 86.4
British Columbia 13 6 5 116.7 160.0 70 43 62.8
Bankruptcies
12 4 5 200.0 140.0 53 32 65.6
Proposals
1 2 0 -50.0 -- 17 11 54.5
Northwest Territories 1 0 0 -- -- 1 0 --
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 1 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 335 224 227 49.6 47.6 2,737 2,054 33.3
Bankruptcies
276 193 187 43.0 47.6 2,319 1,704 36.1
Proposals
59 31 40 90.3 47.5 418 350 19.4

Table 3b: BIA Insolvencies Filed by Individual Businesses

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % Change
Newfoundland and Labrador 1 2 0 -50.0 -- 14 7 100.0
Bankruptcies
0 2 0 -100.0 -- 11 7 57.1
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 3 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 1 2 1 -50.0 0.0 18 11 63.6
Bankruptcies
1 1 1 0.0 0.0 12 8 50.0
Proposals
0 1 0 -100.0 -- 6 3 100.0
New Brunswick 1 2 1 -50.0 0.0 14 8 75.0
Bankruptcies
0 0 1 -- -100.0 9 7 28.6
Proposals
1 2 0 -50.0 -- 5 1 400.0
Quebec 29 24 22 20.8 31.8 265 205 29.3
Bankruptcies
13 8 12 62.5 8.3 148 121 22.3
Proposals
16 16 10 0.0 60.0 117 84 39.3
Ontario 40 25 42 60.0 -4.8 328 227 44.5
Bankruptcies
27 13 23 107.7 17.4 182 129 41.1
Proposals
13 12 19 8.3 -31.6 146 98 49.0
Manitoba 3 3 3 0.0 0.0 23 16 43.8
Bankruptcies
1 3 1 -66.7 0.0 13 12 8.3
Proposals
2 0 2 -- 0.0 10 4 150.0
Saskatchewan 6 4 6 50.0 0.0 46 35 31.4
Bankruptcies
3 2 4 50.0 -25.0 24 24 0.0
Proposals
3 2 2 50.0 50.0 22 11 100.0
Alberta 11 8 11 37.5 0.0 125 70 78.6
Bankruptcies
6 6 5 0.0 20.0 57 41 39.0
Proposals
5 2 6 150.0 -16.7 68 29 134.5
British Columbia 8 10 5 -20.0 60.0 93 48 93.8
Bankruptcies
4 6 5 -33.3 -20.0 58 32 81.3
Proposals
4 4 0 0.0 -- 35 16 118.8
Northwest Territories 0 0 0 -- -- 2 0 --
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 0 0 --
Proposals
0 0 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 100 80 91 25.0 9.9 928 630 47.3
Bankruptcies
55 41 52 34.1 5.8 514 383 34.2
Proposals
45 39 39 15.4 15.4 414 247 67.6

Table 4: BIA Insolvencies by NAICS Sectors

- Volume % Change 12-Month Period Ending
March
2023
February
2023
March
2022
Feb. 2023
to
Mar. 2023
Mar. 2022
to
Mar. 2023
03-31-2023 03-31-2022 % Change
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 9 4 6 125.0 50.0 76 68 11.8
Bankruptcies
6 4 6 50.0 0.0 57 59 -3.4
Proposals
3 0 0 -- -- 19 9 111.1
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction 3 3 1 0.0 200.0 30 34 -11.8
Bankruptcies
1 3 1 -66.7 0.0 21 28 -25.0
Proposals
2 0 0 -- -- 9 6 50.0
Utilities 0 0 0 -- -- 7 3 133.3
Bankruptcies
0 0 0 -- -- 4 2 100.0
Proposals
0 0 0 -- -- 3 1 200.0
Construction 68 38 57 78.9 19.3 551 389 41.6
Bankruptcies
46 26 40 76.9 15.0 376 285 31.9
Proposals
22 12 17 83.3 29.4 175 104 68.3
Manufacturing 36 25 22 44.0 63.6 305 220 38.6
Bankruptcies
30 17 17 76.5 76.5 226 169 33.7
Proposals
6 8 5 -25.0 20.0 79 51 54.9
Wholesale Trade 20 19 16 5.3 25.0 169 110 53.6
Bankruptcies
17 14 13 21.4 30.8 135 90 50.0
Proposals
3 5 3 -40.0 0.0 34 20 70.0
Retail Trade 53 36 25 47.2 112.0 428 275 55.6
Bankruptcies
41 31 21 32.3 95.2 353 225 56.9
Proposals
12 5 4 140.0 200.0 75 50 50.0
Transportation and Warehousing 28 26 34 7.7 -17.6 280 230 21.7
Bankruptcies
20 15 26 33.3 -23.1 212 183 15.8
Proposals
8 11 8 -27.3 0.0 68 47 44.7
Information and Cultural Industries 6 5 6 20.0 0.0 67 53 26.4
Bankruptcies
5 4 4 25.0 25.0 53 34 55.9
Proposals
1 1 2 0.0 -50.0 14 19 -26.3
Finance and Insurance 4 3 4 33.3 0.0 48 38 26.3
Bankruptcies
4 2 2 100.0 100.0 34 28 21.4
Proposals
0 1 2 -100.0 -100.0 14 10 40.0
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 9 8 9 12.5 0.0 128 105 21.9
Bankruptcies
7 5 6 40.0 16.7 103 70 47.1
Proposals
2 3 3 -33.3 -33.3 25 35 -28.6
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 25 25 27 0.0 -7.4 251 203 23.6
Bankruptcies
18 22 20 -18.2 -10.0 189 163 16.0
Proposals
7 3 7 133.3 0.0 62 40 55.0
Management of Companies and Enterprises 12 6 9 100.0 33.3 81 74 9.5
Bankruptcies
10 4 9 150.0 11.1 67 58 15.5
Proposals
2 2 0 0.0 -- 14 16 -12.5
Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services 23 17 21 35.3 9.5 167 169 -1.2
Bankruptcies
14 11 13 27.3 7.7 112 123 -8.9
Proposals
9 6 8 50.0 12.5 55 46 19.6
Educational Services 4 5 3 -20.0 33.3 42 26 61.5
Bankruptcies
3 5 3 -40.0 0.0 35 21 66.7
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 7 5 40.0
Health Care and Social Assistance 7 3 7 133.3 0.0 89 74 20.3
Bankruptcies
6 2 4 200.0 50.0 58 55 5.5
Proposals
1 1 3 0.0 -66.7 31 19 63.2
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 12 9 5 33.3 140.0 92 76 21.1
Bankruptcies
11 9 5 22.2 120.0 82 59 39.0
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 10 17 -41.2
Accommodation and Food Services 78 49 42 59.2 85.7 593 384 54.4
Bankruptcies
59 39 32 51.3 84.4 500 313 59.7
Proposals
19 10 10 90.0 90.0 93 71 31.0
Other Services (except Public Administration) 36 23 24 56.5 50.0 247 148 66.9
Bankruptcies
32 21 17 52.4 88.2 204 117 74.4
Proposals
4 2 7 100.0 -42.9 43 31 38.7
Public Administration 2 0 0 -- -- 12 4 200.0
Bankruptcies
1 0 0 -- -- 10 4 150.0
Proposals
1 0 0 -- -- 2 0 --
Canada 435 304 318 43.1 36.8 3,663 2,683 36.5
Bankruptcies 331 234 239 41.5 38.5 2,831 2,086 35.7
Proposals 104 70 79 48.6 31.6 832 597 39.4