Ontario led the country in insolvency filings in March 2026, posting the sharpest increases of any province with consumer insolvencies increasing 19.4% year-over-year with personal bankruptcy rising alone rising 31.1% year-over-year. Nationally, 13,406 filings were recorded, up 10.6% from March 2025 and 8.9% from the previous month, with Ontario’s numbers driving the momentum.
This page is updated monthly as the Office of the Superintendent of Ontario releases data.
Updated for March 2026
2026 Consumer Insolvency Filings
Consumer insolvencies continued their upward trend in March, with Ontario filings rising 19.4% year over year and insolvencies across Canada increasing 10.6%. Consumer insolvencies have now posted double-digit increases in three of the past four months.
Although volumes have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, Ontario insolvencies are still 15.7% below the previous March peak of 6,058 filings reached during the 2009 recession. Nationally, however, consumer insolvencies are much closer to that prior high, sitting just 1.6% below the March 2009 peak of 13,629 filings.
Although volumes remain above pre-pandemic levels, Ontario insolvencies are still 15.7% below the previous March peak of 6,058 filings reached during the 2009 recession. Nationally, however, consumer insolvencies are much closer to that prior high, sitting just 1.6% below the March 2009 peak of 13,629 filings.
Our Homeowners Bankruptcy Index rose again in April to 11.1%, marking a new high since the record lows seen in 2022. In 2025, nearly one in four insolvent homeowners filed with negative home equity, meaning they owed more on their home than it was worth.
Ontario Consumer Insolvency Statistics by Region 2025
In 2025 52,838 Ontarians filed for insolvency. Year-over-year personal bankruptcies increased by 31.1%, while consumer proposals grew by 16.8%.
To understand the profile of an average Canadian in consumer insolvency, 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% | 79.5% |
| Ontario | 51,637 | 2.3% | 7.7% | 1.1% | 80.1% |
REGION* |
|||||
| Barrie Region | 2,360 | 26% | 10% | 30% | 85% |
| Belleville Region | 1,011 | 10% | 4% | 11% | 81% |
| Brampton | 2,470 | 24% | 43% | 21% | 83% |
| Brantford Region | 1,069 | 24% | 53% | 20% | 83% |
| Brockville Region | 382 | 25% | -17% | 40% | 82% |
| Cambridge | 608 | 22% | 25% | 22% | 83% |
| Chatham Region | 550 | 7% | 20% | 3% | 77% |
| City of Toronto | 3,201 | 18% | 10% | 20% | 83% |
| Cornwall Region | 524 | 31% | 34% | 30% | 78% |
| Essex-Leamington Region | 313 | 5% | 15% | 2% | 77% |
| Etobicoke | 1,509 | 14% | 34% | 10% | 81% |
| Guelph | 484 | 12% | 28% | 8% | 79% |
| Hamilton Region | 2,550 | 19% | 22% | 18% | 81% |
| Huron Region | 641 | 23% | 18% | 24% | 77% |
| Kingston Region | 668 | 12% | -13% | 21% | 80% |
| KW-Wellington Region | 1,577 | 19% | 35% | 16% | 81% |
| London Region | 2,850 | 19% | 38% | 14% | 78% |
| Markham | 762 | 15% | 19% | 15% | 85% |
| Mississauga | 2,305 | 14% | 19% | 13% | 84% |
| Newmarket & Area | 1,023 | 20% | 31% | 19% | 83% |
| Niagara Region | 1,976 | 21% | 16% | 22% | 78% |
| North Bay Region | 454 | 2% | -14% | 6% | 80% |
| North York | 3,881 | 24% | 27% | 24% | 85% |
| Burlington-Oakville Region | 1,397 | 21% | 16% | 23% | 82% |
| Orangeville & Area | 451 | 36% | 65% | 31% | 82% |
| Oshawa-Bowmanville Region | 1,927 | 17% | 19% | 17% | 84% |
| Ottawa Region | 3,592 | 15% | 0% | 19% | 81% |
| Parry Sound-Huntsville Region | 343 | 20% | 24% | 19% | 79% |
| Pembroke Region | 293 | 8% | 25% | 3% | 76% |
| Peterborough Region | 950 | 24% | 0% | 30% | 82% |
| Pickering | 850 | 28% | 61% | 23% | 84% |
| Richmond Hill | 620 | 37% | 58% | 33% | 80% |
| Sarnia Region | 399 | 3% | -11% | 8% | 75% |
| Sault Ste. Marie Region | 437 | -3% | -31% | 11% | 77% |
| Scarborough | 2,665 | 19% | 27% | 18% | 84% |
| Stratford Region | 180 | 2% | -26% | 10% | 82% |
| Sudbury Region | 1,039 | 10% | 14% | 9% | 78% |
| Thunder Bay Region | 618 | 1% | -9% | 4% | 79% |
| Timmins Region | 512 | 2% | 48% | -7% | 77% |
| Vaughan | 577 | 28% | 20% | 30% | 83% |
| Windsor Region | 1,210 | 5% | -3% | 8% | 79% |
| Woodstock Region | 420 | 14% | 24% | 12% | 80% |
| *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