Highlights

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1. On March 31, 2008, 404,000 cases, most involving children, were registered in Maintenance Enforcement Programs (MEPs) in the eight provinces and two territories reporting data. The number of cases enrolled remained stable from the previous year.
2. In March 2008, the median amount of the regular payment due ranged from $200 in New Brunswick to $369 in the Northwest Territories.
3. The majority of cases registered with a MEP are in full compliance with their regular monthly payment in any given month. In March 2008, the proportion of cases in compliance was 66% in the reporting provinces and territories, ranging from 55% in the Northwest Territories to 77% in Quebec.
4. Compared to the previous year, the average monthly compliance rate remained stable in almost all jurisdictions in 2007/2008.
5. Cases do not necessarily remain in compliance throughout the year. For the five jurisdictions reporting these data (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories), in just over one-third of cases, payors made their regular payment in full every month in 2007/2008, and in nearly two-thirds of cases, payors made their payment in full at least 6 months of the year.
6. A majority of cases (62%) already had arrears owing when they enrolled in a MEP. As of March 2008, inherited arrears (arrears that existed before enrolment) had been paid off or reduced in about two-thirds of cases with these arrears.
7. On March 31, 2008, 64% of cases had arrears. Quebec had the lowest proportion of cases with arrears (43%) and Ontario the highest (77%). Total arrears owing was $2.5 billion for the 10 reporting jurisdictions, up 3% from the previous year.
8. In 2007/2008, nearly 360,000 enforcement actions were initiated in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Tracing, initiating garnishments, and demands for information or payment comprised the majority of actions in most jurisdictions.