Debt Relief Experts
2026 Consumer Insolvency Filings
This page is updated monthly as the Office of the Superintendent of Ontario releases data.
Updated for January 2026
Consumer insolvencies in Canada rose 7.1% year-over-year in January, reaching 11,408 filings. The increase was driven by a strong 11.3% rise in consumer proposals, while personal bankruptcies declined by 6.4%.
Regionally, trends were mixed. Ontario remained relatively stable overall, as a sharp drop in bankruptcies was offset by higher proposal activity. Meanwhile, provinces such as Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta reported notable increases in total insolvencies, contributing to the national growth.
To understand how the profile of the average consumer insolvency changed in 2025 and why we feel insolvency growth was relatively slow, read our updated Joe Debtor Bankruptcy Study.
January saw a notable acceleration in insolvency activity, with year-over-year filings up 7.1% nationally. This marks a shift from the more modest growth observed in recent months, driven largely by increased consumer proposal volumes.
While this may indicate strengthening upward pressure, it is important to view these results in context. Monthly trends can be volatile, and a single period of growth(particularly following uneven activity in late 2025) does not yet establish a clear longer-term trajectory.
Proposal share increased to start the year, reflecting stronger growth in proposal filings relative to bankruptcies. In Ontario, proposals accounted for approximately 82% of all filings in January, up from recent months, while the national share rose to roughly 79%.
Our Hoyes Michalos Homeowners Bankruptcy Index has fluctuated in recent months with January at 7.0%, February at 10.6% and March at 8.9%.
Ontario Consumer Insolvency Statistics by Region 2025
Ontario and Canada-wide insolvencies ended the year up 2.3%.
In total, 52,838 Ontarians filed for insolvency in 2025. Personal bankruptcies increased by 7.7%, while consumer proposals grew by 1.1%. Proposals accounted for 81% of all insolvencies in Ontario, compared to 78% Canada-wide, and down from 82% in 2024.
To understand how the profile of the average consumer insolvency changed, read our annual Joe Debtor Bankruptcy Study.
Below is a summary of insolvencies by geographic region as summarized by Hoyes Michalos based on insolvency statistics by FSA provided by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB). Regional FSA allocations may differ slightly from annual economic region data provided by the OSB as the regional data summarized by Hoyes Michalos provides additional location details than is available by economic region.
REGION* |
Consumer Insolvencies | Total Growth | Growth Bankruptcy | Growth Proposal | % Proposals |
| Canada | 140,457 | 2.3% | 4.3% | 1.8% | 78% |
| Ontario | 52,838 | 2.3% | 7.7% | 1.1% | 81% |
REGION* |
|||||
| Barrie Region | 2,526 | 7% | 37% | 2% | 81% |
| Belleville Region | 1,094 | 8% | 12% | 7% | 80% |
| Brampton | 2,736 | 11% | 13% | 10% | 83% |
| Brantford Region | 1,116 | 4% | 15% | 2% | 82% |
| Brockville Region | 403 | 5% | 57% | -6% | 73% |
| Cambridge | 563 | -7% | -15% | -6% | 84% |
| Chatham Region | 521 | -5% | 14% | -11% | 73% |
| City of Toronto | 3,1201 | -3% | 0% | -3% | 83% |
| Cornwall Region | 500 | -5% | 10% | -9% | 75% |
| Essex-Leamington Region | 245 | -22% | -20% | -22% | 77% |
| Etobicoke | 1,5379 | 2% | -8% | 4% | 83% |
| Guelph | 445 | -8% | -17% | -6% | 81% |
| Hamilton Region | 2,525 | -1% | 0% | -1% | 81% |
| Huron Region | 619 | -3% | -11% | -1% | 79% |
| Kingston Region | 687 | 3% | 14% | 0% | 78% |
| KW-Wellington Region | 1,708 | 8% | 5% | 9% | 82% |
| London Region | 2,950 | 4% | -2% | 5% | 80% |
| Markham | 773 | 1% | 30% | -4% | 81% |
| Mississauga | 2,435 | 6% | 3% | 6% | 84% |
| Newmarket & Area | 1,058 | 3% | 15% | 1% | 81% |
| Niagara Region | 1,977 | 0% | 9% | -3% | 76% |
| North Bay Region | 441 | -3% | 25% | -10% | 75% |
| North York | 3,927 | 1% | 9% | 0% | 84% |
| Burlington-Oakville Region | 1,492 | 7% | 18% | 4% | 81% |
| Orangeville & Area | 533 | 18% | 49% | 12% | 78% |
| Oshawa-Bowmanville Region | 1,987 | 3% | 11% | 2% | 83% |
| Ottawa Region | 3,805 | 6% | 21% | 2% | 78% |
| Parry Sound-Huntsville Region | 331 | -3% | 10% | -7% | 76% |
| Pembroke Region | 294 | 0% | 6% | -1% | 75% |
| Peterborough Region | 912 | -4% | -12% | -2% | 83% |
| Pickering | 934 | 10% | 0% | 12% | 85% |
| Richmond Hill | 677 | 9% | 1% | 11% | 82% |
| Sarnia Region | 445 | 12% | 21% | 8% | 73% |
| Sault Ste. Marie Region | 408 | -7% | 16% | -13% | 71% |
| Scarborough | 2,626 | -1% | -7% | 0% | 85% |
| Stratford Region | 164 | -9% | 25% | -16% | 76% |
| Sudbury Region | 967 | -7% | 2% | -9% | 76% |
| Thunder Bay Region | 574 | -7% | -2% | -9% | 78% |
| Timmins Region | 445 | -13% | -25% | -10% | 80% |
| Vaughan | 594 | 3% | 2% | 3% | 83% |
| Windsor Region | 1,223 | 1% | 18% | -3% | 76% |
| Woodstock Region | 445 | 8% | 5% | 9% | 81% |
| *Region includes surrounding rural areas | |||||
Press Inquiries
For commentary and information about consumer insolvencies and debt issues in Ontario, contact:
J. Douglas Hoyes
CA, CPA, Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Email Doug
Ted Michalos
CA, CPA, Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Email Ted
