Debt Relief Experts
Ontarians continue to carry record levels of personal debt, and for many residents, a consumer proposal or a personal bankruptcy becomes the only way out of financial trouble.
This page is updated monthly as the Office of the Superintendent of Ontario releases data.
Updated for April 2025.
2025 Consumer Insolvency Filings
Insolvency growth has slowed significantly in the first few months of 2025 despite higher consumer debt levels, elevated interest rates and a slowing economy.
The slowing in growth should not be interpreted as improving financial health among Canadians. Rather, it is an indicator that households are simply holding on a little longer. The underlying economic indicators continue to paint a concerning picture. Credit card balances persist at historic highs while default rates follow an upward trajectory. The Bank of Canada’s financial stress indicator, which tracks borrowers who are 60+ days delinquent on payments, continues to trend upwards. Compounding these domestic challenges to the economy are the continued impact of trade tensions and ongoing economic uncertainty. Given these persistent headwinds, we continue to predict consumer insolvencies will increase toward the later half of 2025.
Proposal share was 80.6% of all insolvencies in Ontario. A slightly higher share of insolvencies are trending towards bankruptcy as confidence in future incomes decline due to job reductions. Across Canada, 77.3% of insolvent consumers filed a proposal.
Our Hoyes Michalos Homeowners Bankruptcy Index is trending upward and was 8.5% in May 2025, although the ratio is volatile. We are seeing an increased number of calls from pre-construction purchases and multiple condo holders who are unable to close or continue with their mortgage payments.
Ontario Consumer Insolvency Statistics by Region 2024
Ontario insolvencies ended the year up 17.8%, while Canadian consumer insolvencies grew by 11.4%.
In total, 51,637 Ontarians across Ontario filed for insolvency in 2024. Personal bankruptcies increased by 17.2%, while consumer proposals grew by 17.9%. Proposals accounted for 82% of all insolvencies in Ontario, compared to 79% Canada-wide.
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 | 137,295 | 11.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% | 79% |
| Ontario | 51,637 | 17.8% | 17.2% | 17.9% | 82% |
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 | |||||
Who files insolvency in Ontario?
The average insolvent debtor looks much like the average person in Ontario. They are working and struggling to make ends meet. To read more about what the average bankrupt looks like, see our bankruptcy research study: Joe Debtor.
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
