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Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996

S.O. 1996, CHAPTER 31

Historical version for the period January 5, 2005 to March 8, 2005.

Amended by: 1996, c. 31, s. 64; 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2; 1999, c. 6, s. 26; 1999, c. 12, Sched. B, s. 8; 2001, c. 9, Sched. C, s. 1; 2002, c. 8, Sched. I, s. 11; 2002, c. 13, s. 57; 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

SKIP TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS

PART I
INTERPRETATION

1.

Interpretation

PART II
DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY OFFICE

2.

Director of Family Responsibility Office

3.

Enforcement officers

4.

Assignment of Director’s powers, etc.

5.

Duty of Director

6.

Powers

7.

Director may refuse to enforce

8.

Director to cease enforcement

PART III
SUPPORT ORDERS AND SUPPORT DEDUCTION ORDERS — MAKING AND FILING

9.

Contents of support order

10.

Support deduction orders to be made

11.

Form of support deduction order

12.

Court to file orders

13.

Orders of other jurisdictions

14.

Orders filed by Minister, etc.

15.

Payors, recipients may file support orders

16.

Withdrawal of orders

17.

Notice of filings and withdrawals

18.

Duty to advise re unfiled support orders

19.

Payor’s and recipient’s duty to advise of address change

PART IV
SUPPORT DEDUCTION ORDERS — ENFORCEMENT

20.

Director to enforce support deduction orders

21.

Support deduction order deemed to be made

22.

Duty of income source

23.

Maximum deduction by income source

24.

Crown bound by support deduction order

25.

Duty to inform re payment interruption

26.

Disputes re income source

27.

Disputes, etc., by payor

28.

Suspension of support deduction order

29.

Income source to keep information confidential

30.

Priority of support deduction orders

31.

Anti-avoidance

32.

Conflict with other Acts

PART V
SUSPENSION OF DRIVERS’ LICENCES

33.

Definition, Part V

34.

First notice

35.

Order to refrain

36.

Second notice

37.

Direction to suspend

38.

Direction to reinstate

39.

Anti-avoidance

PART VI
OTHER ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS

40.

Financial statements

41.

Default hearing

42.

Registration against land

43.

Registration under the Personal Property Security Act

44.

Writs of seizure and sale – amending amounts owing

45.

Garnishment of joint accounts

46.

Garnishment of lottery prizes

47.

Defaulters reported to consumer reporting agencies

48.

Restraining order

49.

Arrest of absconding payor

50.

Recognition of extra-provincial garnishments

PART VII
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

51.

Offences – payors, income sources, etc.

52.

Offences – assignees

53.

Contempt

PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

54.

Director’s access to information

55.

Federal-provincial agreement

56.

Payments pending court decisions

57.

Application of payments

58.

Fees

59.

Protection from personal liability

60.

Acting by lawyer

61.

Disclosure of personal information

62.

Act binds Crown

63.

Regulations

64.

Re-enactment of Part V

PART I
INTERPRETATION

Interpretation

Definitions

1. (1) In this Act,

“Director” means the Director of the Family Responsibility Office; (“directeur”)

“income source” means an individual, corporation or other entity that owes or makes any payment, whether periodically or in a lump sum, to or on behalf of a payor of,

(a) wages, wage supplements or salary, or draws or advances on them,

(b) a commission, bonus, piece-work allowance or similar payment,

(c) a payment made under a contract for service,

(d) a benefit under an accident, disability or sickness plan,

(e) a disability, retirement or other pension,

(f) an annuity,

(g) vacation pay, termination pay and severance pay,

(h) an employee loan,

(i) a shareholder loan or dividends on shares, if the corporation that issued the shares is effectively controlled by the payor or the payor and the payor’s parent, spouse, child, other relative or same-sex partner or a body corporate which the payor and his or her parent, spouse, child, other relative or same-sex partner effectively control, directly or indirectly,

(j) refunds under the Income Tax Act (Canada),

(k) lump sum payments under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada),

(l) income of a type described in the regulations; (“source de revenu”)

“payor” means a person who is required to pay support under a support order; (“payeur”)

“provisional order” means an order that has no effect until it is confirmed by another court and includes orders made under subsection 18 (2) of the Divorce Act (Canada), sections 7 and 30 of the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, 2002 and section 44 of the Family Law Act; (“ordonnance conditionnelle”)

“recipient” means a person entitled to support under a support order or the parent, other than the payor, of a child entitled to support under a support order; (“bénéficiaire”)

“regulations” means the regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)

“same-sex partner” means either of two persons of the same sex who live together in a conjugal relationship outside marriage; (“partenaire de même sexe”)

“spouse” means,

(a) a spouse as defined in section 1 of the Family Law Act, or

(b) either of two persons of the opposite sex who live together in a conjugal relationship outside marriage; (“conjoint”)

“support deduction order” means a support deduction order made or deemed to have been made under this Act or its predecessor; (“ordonnance de retenue des aliments”)

“support order” means a provision in an order made in or outside Ontario and enforceable in Ontario for the payment of money as support or maintenance, and includes a provision for,

(a) the payment of an amount periodically, whether annually or otherwise and whether for an indefinite or limited period, or until the happening of a specified event,

(b) a lump sum to be paid or held in trust,

(c) payment of support or maintenance in respect of a period before the date of the order,

(d) payment to an agency of an amount in reimbursement for a benefit or assistance provided to a party under a statute, including a benefit or assistance provided before the date of the order,

(e) payment of expenses in respect of a child’s prenatal care and birth,

(f) the irrevocable designation, by a spouse or same-sex partner who has a policy of life insurance or an interest in a benefit plan, of the other spouse or same-sex partner or a child as the beneficiary, or

(g) interest or the payment of legal fees or other expenses arising in relation to support or maintenance,

and includes such a provision in a domestic contract or paternity agreement that is enforceable under section 35 of the Family Law Act. (“ordonnance alimentaire”) 1996, c. 31, s. 1 (1); 1999, c. 6, s. 26; 2002, c. 13, s. 57 (1).

Interpretation – income source

(2) An individual, corporation or other entity continues to be an income source despite temporary interruptions in the payments owed to a payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 1 (2).

Same – related orders

(3) A support deduction order is related to the support order on which it is based and a support order is related to the support deduction order that is based on it. 1996, c. 31, s. 1 (3).

PART II
DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY OFFICE

Director of Family Responsibility Office

2. There shall be a Director of the Family Responsibility Office who shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. 1996, c. 31, s. 2.

Enforcement officers

3. (1) The Director may appoint employees of the Director’s office as enforcement officers for the purposes of this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 3 (1).

Powers

(2) An enforcement officer may act for the Director and in his or her name. 1996, c. 31, s. 3 (2).

Assignment of Director’s powers, etc.

4. (1) The Attorney General may, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, assign to any person, agency or body, or class thereof, any of the powers, duties or functions of the Director under this Act, subject to the limitations, conditions and requirements set out in the assignment. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (1).

Same

(2) An assignment may include powers, duties or functions that are not purely administrative in nature, including statutory powers of decision and discretionary powers given to the Director under this Act, and may provide that an assignee may be a party in any action or proceeding instead of the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (2).

Fees, etc.

(3) An assignment may, subject to any regulation made under clause 63 (1), set out the fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges that the assignee may charge to the payor, or a method for determining them, how and when they may be collected, and may exempt the assignee from clause 22 (a) of the Collection Agencies Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (3).

Same

(4) An assignee may charge fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges as set out in the assignment and such fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges may,

(a) be in respect of services for which the Director may not charge anything;

(b) be higher than a fee, cost, disbursement, surcharge or other charge that the Director is permitted to charge for the same service; and

(c) be applied in a manner other than that provided in section 57. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (4).

Same

(5) Any fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges or other charges charged by an assignee must be charged to the payor and may be added to the amount of arrears owing by the payor and may be collected in like manner as arrears. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (5).

Interest

(6) For the purposes of subsections (3), (4) and (5),

“other charges” includes interest at a rate prescribed by regulation. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (6).

Use of information restricted

(7) An assignee shall not use or disclose the information it has collected in carrying out any power, duty or function assigned to the assignee under subsection (1) except for the purposes of this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 4 (7).

Duty of Director

5. (1) It is the duty of the Director to enforce support orders where the support order and the related support deduction order, if any, are filed in the Director’s office and to pay the amounts collected to the person to whom they are owed. 1996, c. 31, s. 5 (1).

Transition

(2) Subject to subsection (4), a support order or support deduction order that is filed in the office of the Director of the Family Support Plan immediately before the day this section comes into force shall be deemed to be filed in the Director’s office on the day this section comes into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 5 (2).

Same

(3) If a support deduction order is filed in the office of the Director of the Family Support Plan immediately before the day this section comes into force and the related support order was never filed in his or her office before that day, it is the duty of the Director to enforce the support deduction order so long as it is filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 5 (3).

Same

(4) If a support deduction order is filed in the office of the Director of the Family Support Plan immediately before the day this section comes into force and the related support order was withdrawn from his or her office before that day, either when the support order was made or later, the support deduction order shall be deemed to be withdrawn from the Director’s office on the day this section comes into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 5 (4).

Powers

6. (1) The Director shall carry out his or her duties in the manner, if any, that appears practical to the Director and, for the purpose, may commence and conduct a proceeding and take any steps in the Director’s name for the benefit of recipients, including,

(a) enforcing support deduction orders that are filed in the Director’s office, as provided by this Act;

(b) employing any other enforcement mechanisms expressly provided for in this Act;

(c) employing any other enforcement mechanisms not expressly provided for in this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (1).

Transition

(2) The Director may enforce the payment of arrears of support under a support order although they were incurred before the order was filed in the Director’s office or before July 2, 1987. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (2).

Same

(3) The Director may enforce the payment of the arrears of support owed on the day this section comes into force under an order that,

(a) is not a support order as defined in subsection 1 (1) but was a support order within the meaning of the Family Support Plan Act, as it read immediately before its repeal by this Act; and

(b) is filed in the office of the Director of the Family Support Plan immediately before such repeal. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (3).

Same

(4) For the purpose of subsection (3), an order described in that subsection shall be deemed to be a support order as defined in subsection 1 (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (4).

Note: Subsection (5) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. See: 1996, c. 31, s. 74.

Same

(5) The Director shall not enforce custody orders made by a Canadian court, even if they were filed with the Director before this section comes into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (5).

Enforcement alternatives

(6) Enforcement of a support order or support deduction order by one means does not prevent enforcement by other means at the same time or different times. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (6).

Enforcement by Director exclusive

(7) Subject to section 4, no person other than the Director shall enforce a support order that is filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (7).

Same

(8) Subject to section 4, no person other than the Director shall enforce a support deduction order, whether the order is filed in the Director’s office or not. 1996, c. 31, s. 6 (8).

Director may refuse to enforce

7. (1) Despite section 5, the Director may at any time refuse to enforce a support order or support deduction order that is filed in the Director’s office if, in his or her opinion,

(a) the amount of the support is nominal;

(b) the amount of the support cannot be determined from the face of the order because it is expressed as a percentage of the payor’s income or it is dependent on another variable that does not appear on the order;

(c) the meaning of the order is unclear or ambiguous;

(d) the recipient has not complied with reasonable requests to provide the Director with accurate or sufficient information as may be needed in order to enforce the order or respecting the amount of arrears owed under the order;

(e) the whereabouts of the recipient cannot be determined after reasonable efforts have been made;

(f) the payor is in prison serving a sentence of five years or longer and has no assets or income available to satisfy the support order and any arrears under the order;

(g) the payor is receiving benefits under the Family Benefits Act, assistance under the General Welfare Assistance Act or the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or income support under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997 and has no assets or income available to satisfy the support order and any arrears under the order;

(h) the recipient repeatedly accepts payment of support directly from the payor;

(i) the recipient consents to a limitation of enforcement of the support order by the Director;

(j) enforcement of the support order has been stayed by a court; or

(k) enforcement of the order is otherwise unreasonable or impractical. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (1); 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (1).

Policies and procedures

(2) The Attorney General may establish policies and procedures respecting subsection (1) and the Director shall consider them in exercising his or her discretion under that subsection. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (2).

Order deemed withdrawn

(3) If the Director refuses to enforce an order under subsection (1), the Director shall notify the payor and the recipient and the support order and the related support deduction order, if any, shall be deemed to be withdrawn from the Director’s office on the date set out in the notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (3).

Cost of living clauses

(4) The Director shall not enforce a cost of living clause in a support order or support deduction order made in Ontario unless it is calculated in accordance with subsection 34 (5) of the Family Law Act or in a manner prescribed by regulation. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (4).

Same

(5) The Director shall not enforce a cost of living clause in a support order or a support deduction order if the support order was made outside Ontario unless it is calculated in a manner that the Director considers similar to that provided in subsection 34 (5) of the Family Law Act or in a manner prescribed by regulation. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (5).

Same

(6) Where the cost of living clause in an order is not calculated in accordance with subsection 34 (5) of the Family Law Act or in a manner prescribed by regulation or, if the order was made outside Ontario, in a manner that the Director considers similar, the Director shall, subject to subsection (1), enforce the order as if it contained no cost of living clause. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (6).

Transition

(7) Despite subsections (5) and (6), if an order contains a cost of living clause that is not calculated in accordance with subsection 34 (5) of the Family Law Act or in a manner prescribed by regulation or, if the order was made outside Ontario, in a manner that the Director considers similar, which became effective before this section came into force,

(a) the Director shall continue to enforce the order and the cost of living clause at the same amount at which the Director of the Family Support Plan was enforcing them immediately before this section came into force; and

(b) the Director shall not make any further adjustments under the cost of living clause after this section comes into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (7).

Same

(8) This section applies even if the order was filed in the Director’s office before this section comes into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 7 (8).

Director to cease enforcement

8. (1) The Director shall cease enforcement of a support obligation provided for in a support order or support deduction order filed in the Director’s office if the support obligation has terminated; however, if the support order has been assigned to an agency described in subsection 33 (3) of the Family Law Act, the Director shall not cease enforcement of the support obligation without the agency’s consent. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (1).

Same

(2) The Director shall not enforce a support order or support deduction order against the estate of a payor after he or she is notified, in accordance with the regulations, of the payor’s death. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (2).

Date of termination

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), the termination of a support obligation shall be determined in one of the following ways:

1. If the parties to the support order or support deduction order agree in the manner prescribed by the regulations that the support obligation has terminated.

2. If the support obligation is stated in the support order or support deduction order to terminate on a set calendar date.

3. If a court orders that the obligation has terminated. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (3).

Notice to Director

(4) Each of the parties to a support order, if the support order or related support deduction order is filed in the Director’s office, shall give to the Director notice of the termination of a support obligation under the order, in the manner and at such time as may be prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (4).

Disputes

(5) If the parties to the order do not agree or if the agency referred to in subsection (1) does not consent, the court that made the support order shall, on the motion of a party to the order or of the agency, decide if the support obligation has terminated and shall make an order to that effect. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (5).

Same

(6) If the support order was not made by a court, the order described in subsection (5) shall be made by the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (6).

Order to repay

(7) A court that finds that a support obligation has terminated may order repayment in whole or in part from a person who received support after the obligation was terminated if the court is of the opinion that the person ought to have notified the Director that the support obligation had terminated. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (7).

Same

(8) In determining whether to make an order under subsection (7), the court shall consider the circumstances of each of the parties to the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (8).

Continued enforcement

(9) The Director shall continue to enforce the support obligation until he or she receives a copy of the court’s order terminating the support obligation. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (9).

Same

(10) Despite the termination of a support obligation, the Director shall continue to enforce the support obligation in respect of any arrears which have accrued. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (10).

Director not a party

(11) The Director is not a party to any proceeding to determine the entitlement of any person to support under a support order or to a motion to decide whether a support obligation has terminated. 1996, c. 31, s. 8 (11).

PART III
SUPPORT ORDERS AND SUPPORT DEDUCTION ORDERS —
MAKING AND FILING

Contents of support order

9. (1) Every support order made by an Ontario court, other than a provisional order, shall state in its operative part that unless the order is withdrawn from the Director’s office, it shall be enforced by the Director and that amounts owing under the order shall be paid to the Director, who shall pay them to the person to whom they are owed. 1996, c. 31, s. 9 (1).

Court may require that order may not be withdrawn

(2) If the court considers it appropriate to do so, it may state in the operative part of the order, instead of the wording prescribed by subsection (1), that the order and the related support deduction order shall be enforced by the Director and that they cannot be withdrawn from the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 9 (2).

Director retains discretion to not enforce orders

(3) Section 7 applies to every support order worded as provided in subsection (1) or (2), whether the order was made before or after this section comes into force and despite the wording of an order made under subsection (2). 1996, c. 31, s. 9 (3).

Support deduction orders to be made

10. (1) An Ontario court that makes a support order, as defined in subsection 1 (1), shall also make a support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 10 (1).

New orders to be made

(2) When a support order is varied, and the varied order is a support order as defined in subsection 1 (1), the court shall also make a support deduction order to reflect the variation. 1996, c. 31, s. 10 (2).

Transition

(3) When a support order, within the meaning of the Family Support Plan Act as it read immediately before its repeal by this Act, is varied such that the new order is a support order as defined in subsection 1 (1), the court shall also make a support deduction order to reflect the variation. 1996, c. 31, s. 10 (3).

Order mandatory

(4) A support deduction order shall be made even though the court cannot identify an income source in respect of the payor at the time the support order is made. 1996, c. 31, s. 10 (4).

Exception

(5) A support deduction order shall not be made in respect of a provisional order. 1996, c. 31, s. 10 (5).

Form of support deduction order

11. (1) A support deduction order shall be in the form prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 11 (1).

Information re payor, income source

(2) Before making a support deduction order, the court shall make such inquiries of the parties as it considers necessary to determine the names and addresses of each income source of the payor and the amounts paid to the payor by each income source and shall make such other inquiries to obtain information as may be prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 11 (2).

Same

(3) If the support order is sought on consent or by way of motion for judgment or if the making of the support order is uncontested, the parties shall give the court the particulars described in subsection (2) and such other information as may be prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 11 (3).

Completion of form, etc.

(4) The support deduction order shall be completed and signed by the court, or by the clerk or registrar of the court, at the time the support order is made and shall be entered in the court records promptly after it is signed, even if the support order may not have been settled or signed at that time. 1996, c. 31, s. 11 (4).

Court to file orders

Support orders

12. (1) The clerk or registrar of the court that makes a support order shall file it with the Director’s office promptly after it is signed. 1996, c. 31, s. 12 (1).

Support deduction orders

(2) The clerk or registrar of the court that makes a support deduction order shall file it with the Director’s office promptly after it is signed, even if the related support order may not have been settled or signed at the time. 1996, c. 31, s. 12 (2).

Orders of other jurisdictions

13. (1) When a support order made by a court outside Ontario is registered under subsection 19 (1) of the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, 2002, the clerk who registers the order shall promptly file it with the Director’s office, unless the order is accompanied by a notice signed by the person seeking enforcement stating that he or she does not want the order enforced by the Director. 2002, c. 13, s. 57 (2).

Same – Divorce Act (Canada) orders

(2) A support order made by a court outside Ontario under the Divorce Act (Canada) may be filed in the Director’s office by the recipient under the order and, for the purpose of subsection 20 (3) of the Divorce Act (Canada), the order becomes enforceable by the Director upon its filing in the Director’s office without it having been registered in a court in Ontario. 1996, c. 31, s. 13 (2).

Orders filed by Minister, etc.

14. (1) If a recipient has applied and is eligible for, or has received, a benefit under the Family Benefits Act or assistance under the General Welfare Assistance Act or the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or income support under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, a support order may be filed in the Director’s office, whether or not the payor and recipient have given a notice to withdraw under subsection 16 (1), by the following:

1. The Ministry of Community and Social Services in the name of the Minister.

2. A municipality, excluding a lower-tier municipality in a regional municipality.

3. A district social services administration board under the District Social Services Administration Boards Act.

4. A band approved under section 15 of the General Welfare Assistance Act.

5. A delivery agent under the Ontario Works Act, 1997. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (2); 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table.

Same

(2) If a support order is filed under subsection (1), the related support deduction order, if any, shall be deemed to be filed in the Director’s office at the same time. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (2).

Payors, recipients may file support orders

15. Subject to sections 12, 13 and 14, a support order may be filed in the Director’s office only by the payor or recipient under the order. 1996, c. 31, s. 15.

Withdrawal of orders

16. (1) A support order or support deduction order filed in the office of the Director may be withdrawn at any time by a written notice signed by the payor and the recipient unless the support order states that it and the related support deduction order cannot be withdrawn from the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 16 (1).

Consent of agency filing order

(2) A support order and related support deduction order, if any, that have been assigned to an agency referred to in subsection 14 (1) may not be withdrawn under subsection (1) except by the agency or with the consent of the agency so long as the orders are under assignment. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (3).

Effect of withdrawal

(3) The Director shall cease enforcement of an order upon its withdrawal from the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 16 (3).

Same

(4) If there are arrears owing to an agency referred to in subsection 14 (1) from a past assignment, the Director may continue to enforce the support order and related support deduction order, if any, to collect the arrears owed to the agency, even if the payor and recipient have withdrawn the orders under this section. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (4).

Support and support deduction order must be withdrawn together

(5) A support order cannot be withdrawn under subsection (1) unless the related support deduction order, if any, is also withdrawn and a support deduction order cannot be withdrawn under subsection (1) unless the related support order, if any, is also withdrawn. 1996, c. 31, s. 16 (5).

Filing after withdrawal

(6) A support order or support deduction order that has been withdrawn under subsection (1) or that has been deemed to have been withdrawn under subsection 7 (3) may be filed in the office of the Director at any time by a written notice signed by either the payor or the recipient. 2001, c. 9, Sched. C, s. 1.

Effect

(7) Filing under subsection (6) has the same effect for all purposes, including the purposes of subsection 6 (2), as filing under sections 12 to 15. 2001, c. 9, Sched. C, s. 1.

Application

(7.1) Subsection (7) applies whether the order was filed under subsection (6) before or after the day the Government Efficiency Act, 2001 receives Royal Assent. 2001, c. 9, Sched. C, s. 1.

Support and support deduction orders, filing together after withdrawal

(7.2) A support order cannot be filed under subsection (6) unless the related support deduction order, if any, is also filed and a support deduction order cannot be filed under subsection (6) unless the related support order is also filed. 2001, c. 9, Sched. C, s. 1.

Transition

(8) Despite subsection 6 (4), subsection (7) does not apply to an order that is not a support order as defined in subsection 1 (1), but was a support order within the meaning of the Family Support Plan Act, as it read immediately before its repeal by this Act, and was filed in the office of the Director of the Family Support Plan immediately before this section came into force. 1996, c. 31, s. 16 (8).

Notice of filings and withdrawals

17. The Director shall give notice of the filing or withdrawal of a support order or support deduction order to all the parties to the order, and at the request of any agency referred to in subsection 14 (1), to the agency. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (5).

Duty to advise re unfiled support orders

18. Where a support deduction order that was made before this section came into force is filed in the Director’s office but the related support order was never filed in the Director’s office, the recipient shall inform the Director in writing of,

(a) the amount of money received on account of the support order other than through the support deduction order; and

(b) any changes in the amount to be paid under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 18.

Payor’s and recipient’s duty to advise of address change

19. If a payor or recipient under a support order or support deduction order filed in the Director’s office changes address, he or she shall advise the Director of the new address within 10 days of the change. 1996, c. 31, s. 19.

PART IV
SUPPORT DEDUCTION ORDERS
ENFORCEMENT

Director to enforce support deduction orders

20. (1) The Director shall enforce a support deduction order that is filed in the Director’s office, subject to section 7 and to any suspension or variation of the support deduction order, until the related support order is terminated or withdrawn and there are no arrears owing or until the support deduction order is withdrawn. 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (1).

Notice of support deduction order to income sources

(2) The Director may serve a notice of a support deduction order to each income source from whom the Director is seeking payment, and may serve new notices when the amount to be paid under a support order changes or arrears are owing. 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (2).

Contents of notice

(3) The notice shall set out the amount of support owed by the payor under the support order and may also set out any amount in arrears under the support order and the amount required to be paid by the income source to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (3).

Notice to payor

(4) The Director shall send to the payor a copy of every notice sent under subsection (2). 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (4).

Notice deemed garnishment for Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada)

(5) A notice of a support deduction order shall be deemed to be a notice of garnishment made under provincial garnishment law for the purposes of the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada). 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (5).

Support deduction order not affected by stay of enforcement of support order

(6) The operation or enforcement of a support deduction order is not affected by an order staying the enforcement of the related support order unless the support order is also stayed. 1996, c. 31, s. 20 (6).

Support deduction order deemed to be made

21. (1) A support deduction order shall be deemed to have been made in respect of a support order described in subsection (8) if,

(a) the recipient requests that the Director enforce the support order under this Part and the Director considers it practical to do so; or

(b) the Director considers it advisable to enforce the support order under this Part. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (1).

Notice to payor

(2) The Director shall give notice to the payor of the Director’s intention to enforce the support order under this Part. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (2).

When and by what court deemed order is made

(3) The support deduction order shall, 30 days after the notice is served on the payor, be deemed to have been made by the court that made the support order or,

(a) if the support order was made under the Divorce Act (Canada) by a court outside Ontario, by the Ontario Court (General Division) or, where applicable, the Family Court;

(b) if the support order (other than an order under the Divorce Act (Canada)) was made by a court outside Ontario, by a court in Ontario that is the same level as the court that has the jurisdiction to make the order enforceable in Ontario;

(c) if the support order is a domestic contract or paternity agreement, by the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (3).

Suspension

(4) The payor may, within 30 days after being served with the notice under subsection (2), commence a motion under section 28 in the court that is deemed to have made the support deduction order for its suspension. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (4).

Delay of effective date

(5) If a motion is brought under subsection (4), a deemed support deduction order does not come into force until the motion is determined. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (5).

Withdrawal of support deduction order

(6) Section 16 applies to a deemed support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (6).

No form required

(7) Subsection 11 (1) does not apply to a deemed support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (7).

Application of this section

(8) This section applies only to support orders filed in the Director’s office that are,

(a) support orders made by an Ontario court before March 1, 1992;

(b) domestic contracts or paternity agreements that are enforceable under section 35 of the Family Law Act;

(c) support orders made by a court outside Ontario that are enforceable in Ontario. 1996, c. 31, s. 21 (8).

Duty of income source

22. (1) An income source that receives notice of a support deduction order, whether or not the income source is named in the order, shall, subject to section 23, deduct from the money the income source owes to the payor the amount of the support owed by the payor, or such other amount that is set out in the notice, and shall pay that amount to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 22 (1).

First payment

(2) The income source shall begin making payments to the Director not later than the day the first payment is to be paid to the payor that falls at least 14 days after the day on which the income source is served with the notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 22 (2).

Payor’s duty to pay

(3) Until an income source begins deducting support payments in respect of a support deduction order or if payments by an income source are interrupted or terminated, the payor shall pay the amounts owing under the support order to the Director, if the support order is filed in the Director’s office, or to the recipient, if the support order is not filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 22 (3).

Maximum deduction by income source

23. (1) The total amount deducted by an income source and paid to the Director under a support deduction order shall not exceed 50 per cent of the net amount owed by the income source to the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (1).

Note: Subsection (2) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. See: 1996, c. 31, s. 74.

Deduction must equal ongoing support

(2) Despite subsection (1), the total amount deducted by an income source and paid to the Director under a support deduction order made or deemed to have been made after this section comes into force shall not be less than the amount of ongoing support specified in the support order, even if that amount is greater than 50 per cent of the net income owed by the income source to the payor, unless the court orders otherwise when it makes the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (2).

Exception for certain federal payments

(3) Despite subsection (1), up to 100 per cent of a payor’s income tax refund or other lump sum payment that is attachable under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada) may be deducted and paid to the Director under a support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (3).

Note: Subsection (4) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. See: 1996, c. 31, s. 74.

Transition

(4) The Director may, on notice to the payor, bring a motion to the court that made or is deemed to have made a support deduction order before this section comes into force, to increase the amount required to be deducted and paid to the Director up to the amount of the ongoing support specified in the support order, even if that amount is greater than 50 per cent of the net income owed by the income source to the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (4).

Interpretation – net amount

(5) For the purposes of this section,

“net amount” means the total amount owed by the income source to the payor at the time payment is to be made to the Director, less the total of the following deductions:

1. Income Tax.

2. Canada Pension Plan.

3. Employment Insurance.

4. Union dues.

5. Such other deductions as may be prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (5).

Same

(6) Despite any other provision of this Act, no deduction shall be made under a support deduction order in respect of amounts owing to a payor as reimbursement for expenses covered by a medical, health, dental or hospital insurance contract or plan. 1996, c. 31, s. 23 (6).

Crown bound by support deduction order

24. (1) A support deduction order is effective against the Crown only in respect of amounts payable on behalf of the administrative unit served with notice of the support deduction order to the payor named in the notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 24 (1).

Social assistance benefits

(2) Despite subsection (1), no amounts shall be deducted from any amount payable to a payor as a benefit under the Family Benefits Act or as assistance under the General Welfare Assistance Act or the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or as income support under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, in order to comply with a support deduction order unless authorized under the Ontario Works Act, 1997 or the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (6).

Definition

(3) In subsection (1),

“administrative unit” means a ministry of the Government of Ontario, a Crown agency within the meaning of the Crown Agency Act or the Office of the Assembly. 1996, c. 31, s. 24 (3).

Duty to inform re payment interruption

25. (1) Within 10 days after the termination or beginning of an interruption of payments by an income source to a payor, both the income source and the payor shall give written notice of the termination or interruption to the Director, together with such other information as may be required by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 25 (1).

Same

(2) If notice has been or should have been given under subsection (1),

(a) the payor and the income source, within 10 days after the resumption of payments that have been interrupted, shall give written notice to the Director of the resumption;

(b) the payor, within 10 days of beginning employment with another income source or of becoming entitled to payments from another income source, shall give written notice to the Director of the new employment or entitlement and of the name and address of the income source. 1996, c. 31, s. 25 (2).

Disputes re income source

26. (1) If an individual, corporation or other entity served with notice of a support deduction order is not an income source of the payor named in the notice, the individual, corporation or other entity shall give written notice in the prescribed form of that fact to the Director within 10 days after the service of the notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (1).

Same

(2) The Director or an individual, corporation or other entity who has notified the Director under subsection (1) may, on notice to each other, bring a motion to the court that made or is deemed to have made the support deduction order to determine whether the individual, corporation or other entity is an income source. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (2).

Same

(3) The Director or an income source may, on notice to each other, bring a motion to the court that made or is deemed to have made the support deduction order to determine,

(a) whether the income source has failed to comply with the order; or

(b) whether the amount the income source is deducting and paying to the Director under the order is correct. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (3).

Determination by court

(4) In a motion under subsection (2) or (3), the court shall determine the issue in a summary manner and make such order as it considers appropriate in the circumstances. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (4).

Limitation

(5) A motion shall not be brought under subsection (2) by an individual (other than the Director), corporation or other entity until at least 14 days after the individual, corporation or other entity gave written notice to the Director as required by subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (5).

Same

(6) A motion shall not be brought by an income source under subsection (3) unless the income source has given written particulars of the proposed motion to the Director at least 14 days before serving the Director with notice of the motion. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (6).

Liability

(7) An income source is liable to pay to the Director any amount that it failed without proper reason to deduct and pay to the Director after receiving notice of a support deduction order and, in a motion under subsection (3), the court may order the income source to pay the amount that it ought to have deducted and paid to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (7).

Other enforcement

(8) In addition to any other method available to enforce an order in a civil proceeding, any order made under subsection (4) or (7) may be enforced under this Act in the same manner and with the same remedies as a support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 26 (8).

Disputes, etc., by payor

27. (1) A payor, on motion in the court that made or is deemed to have made the support deduction order,

(a) may dispute the amount being deducted by an income source under a support deduction order if he or she is of the opinion that because of a mistake of fact more is being deducted than is required under this Act;

(b) may dispute whether he or she has defaulted in paying support after a suspension order has been made under section 28;

(c) may seek relief regarding the amount that is being deducted by an income source under a support deduction order for arrears under a support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (1).

Motion to increase deductions for arrears

(2) If an order has been made on a motion under clause (1) (c), the Director may, on motion in the court that made the order, request that the amount to be deducted by an income source be increased if there has been an improvement in the payor’s financial circumstances. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (2).

Dispute over entitlement

(3) On a motion under subsection (1) or (2), the payor shall not dispute the entitlement of a person to support under a support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (3).

Necessary party

(4) The Director is a necessary party to a motion under subsection (1) and the payor is a necessary party to a motion under subsection (2). 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (4).

Determination by court

(5) The court shall determine the issue in a motion under subsection (1) or (2) in a summary manner and make such order as it considers appropriate in the circumstances. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (5).

Same

(6) On a motion under clause (1) (c), the payor shall be presumed to have the ability to pay the amount being deducted for arrears and the court may vary the amount being deducted only if it is satisfied that the payor is unable for valid reasons to pay that amount, but this does not affect the accruing of arrears. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (6).

Variation of support deduction order

(7) A court shall not vary the amount to be paid under a support deduction order except under subsection (5) or 23 (4) or if the related support order is varied. 1996, c. 31, s. 27 (7).

Suspension of support deduction order

28. (1) A court that makes a support deduction order may make an order to suspend its operation at the same time as it makes the order, or, on motion, subsequently. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (1).

Same

(2) A court that is deemed to have made a support deduction order may, on a motion made under subsection 21 (4), make an order suspending its operation. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (2).

Criteria for suspension

(3) The court may suspend a support deduction order under subsection (1) or (2) only if,

(a) it finds that it would be unconscionable, having regard to all of the circumstances, to require the payor to make support payments through a support deduction order; or

(b) the parties to the support order agree that they do not want support payments collected through a support deduction order and the court requires the payor to post such security as it considers adequate and in accordance with the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (3).

Agency’s consent required

(4) If the support order has been assigned to an agency described in subsection 33 (3) of the Family Law Act or if there are arrears owing to the agency from a past assignment, the court shall not suspend the support deduction order in the circumstances described in clause (3) (b) without the agency’s consent. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (4).

Unconscionable, determination

(5) The following shall not be considered by a court in determining whether it would be unconscionable to require a payor to make support payments through a support deduction order:

1. The fact that the payor has demonstrated a good payment history in respect of his or her debts, including support obligations.

2. The fact that the payor has had no opportunity to demonstrate voluntary compliance in respect of support obligations.

3. The fact that the parties have agreed to the suspension of the support deduction order.

4. The fact that there are grounds upon which a court might find that the amount payable under the support order should be varied. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (5).

Security

(6) For the purposes of clause (3) (b), security shall be in a minimum amount equal to the support payable for four months and the security shall be in money or in such other form as may be prescribed in the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (6).

When Director is a party

(7) The Director is not a party to a motion brought to suspend the operation of a support deduction order; however, if the payor brings a motion with respect to a support deduction order deemed to have been made under section 21, the Director must also be served with notice of the motion and may be added as a party. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (7).

When agency is a party

(8) An agency that has filed the related support order in the Director’s office under subsection 14 (1) and an agency referred to in subsection 14 (1) to which a related support order has been assigned must also be served with notice of the motion and may be added as a party. 1997, c. 25, Sched. E, s. 2 (7).

Completion of form, etc.

(9) A suspension order shall be completed and signed by the court or by the clerk or registrar of the court at the time it is made and shall be entered in the court records promptly after it is signed. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (9).

Prompt filing

(10) The clerk or registrar of the court that makes a suspension order shall file it in the Director’s office promptly after it is made. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (10).

Form and effective date

(11) A suspension order shall be in the form prescribed by the regulations and takes effect only when it is filed in the Director’s office and every income source affected by the order has received notice of the suspension. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (11).

Termination of suspension order

(12) A suspension order is automatically terminated if the payor fails to post security of the type or within the time period set out in the suspension order or if the payor fails to comply with the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (12).

Effect of termination

(13) When a suspension order is terminated under subsection (12), the support deduction order is reinstated and the Director may immediately realize on any security that was posted. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (13).

Effect of withdrawal of support deduction order

(14) If the support deduction order is withdrawn from the Director’s office while a suspension order is in effect, the suspension order is terminated and the Director shall repay to the payor any security that was posted. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (14).

Support order not affected by suspension order

(15) A suspension order under this section does not affect the payor’s obligations under the support order nor does it affect any other means of enforcing the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 28 (15).

Income source to keep information confidential

29. Information about a payor obtained as a result of the application of this Part by an income source or an individual, corporation or other entity believed to be an income source shall not be disclosed by the income source or the individual, corporation or other entity, as the case may be, or any director, officer, employee or agent thereof, except for the purposes of complying with a support deduction order or this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 29.

Priority of support deduction orders

30. (1) Despite any other Act, a support deduction order has the same priority over other judgment debts as a support order has under the Creditors’ Relief Act and all support orders and support deduction orders rank equally with each other. 1996, c. 31, s. 30 (1).

Same

(2) If an income source is required to make payments to the Director under a support deduction order and the income source receives a garnishment notice related to the same support obligation, the income source shall make full payment under the support deduction order and the garnishment shall be of no effect until the income source has received notice from the Director that the support deduction order is suspended, terminated or withdrawn from the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 30 (2).

Anti-avoidance

31. An agreement by the parties to a support order to vary enforcement of a support deduction order that is filed in the Director’s office and any agreement or arrangement to avoid or prevent enforcement of a support deduction order that is filed in the Director’s office are of no effect. 1996, c. 31, s. 31.

Conflict with other Acts

32. A support deduction order may be enforced despite any provision in any other Act protecting any payment owed by an income source to a payor from attachment or other process for the enforcement of a judgment debt. 1996, c. 31, s. 32.

PART V
SUSPENSION OF DRIVERS’ LICENCES

Definition, Part V

33. In this Part,

“driver’s licence” has the same meaning as in subsection 1 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 33.

First notice

34. When a support order that is filed in the Director’s office is in default, the Director may serve a first notice on the payor, informing the payor that his or her driver’s licence may be suspended unless, within 30 days after the day the first notice is served,

(a) the payor makes an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order and for paying the arrears owing under the support order;

(b) the payor obtains an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1) and files the order in the Director’s office; or

(c) the payor pays all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 34.

Order to refrain

35. (1) A payor who receives a first notice may, on notice to the Director, in an application to vary the support order, make a motion for an order that the Director refrain from directing the suspension of the payor’s driver’s licence under subsection 37 (1), on the terms that the court considers just. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (1).

Exception

(2) Despite subsection (1), a motion for an order that the Director refrain from directing the suspension of the payor’s driver’s licence may be made before the commencement of an application to vary the support order on the undertaking of the payor or the payor’s solicitor to commence the proceeding forthwith. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (2).

Time limits and variation

(3) A court shall not make an order to refrain after the 30-day period referred to in the first notice, but an order to refrain may be varied, on motion by the payor or the Director, at any time before the application to vary support is determined if there is a material change in the payor’s circumstances. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (3).

Same

(4) A court may make an order to refrain only within the 30-day period referred to in the first notice and may make only one order to refrain in respect of any first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (4).

Order re arrears

(5) When determining the variation application, a court that makes an order to refrain,

(a) shall state the amount of the arrears owing, after any variation; and

(b) may make an order respecting payment of the arrears. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (5).

Same

(6) For the purpose of clause (5) (b), the court may make any order that may be made under clause 41 (9) (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) or subsection 41 (16) and, in the case of an order provided by clause 41 (9) (g) or (h), imprisonment does not discharge arrears under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (6).

When Director is a party

(7) The Director is not a party to an application to vary a support order referred to in subsection (1), but the Director and the payor are the only parties to a motion under subsection (1) for an order to refrain. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (7).

Filing with Director’s office

(8) The court shall file a copy of the order in the Director’s office promptly after the order is signed. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (8).

Form and effective date

(9) An order to refrain shall be in the form prescribed by the regulations and takes effect only when it is filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (9).

Duration of order

(10) An order to refrain terminates on the earliest of the day the application to vary is determined, the day the support order is withdrawn from the Director’s office and the day that is six months after the order to refrain is made. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (10).

Exception

(11) Despite subsection (10), an order to refrain made before the commencement of an application to vary the support order is automatically terminated if the payor does not commence the application within 20 days of the date of the order to refrain. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (11).

Extension of order

(12) The court that makes an order to refrain may, on a motion by the payor before the order terminates and with notice to the Director, extend the order for one further period of three months. 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (12).

Application of order

(13) An order to refrain is applicable only to the notice in respect of which the motion was made under subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 35 (13).

Second notice

36. (1) The Director may serve a second notice on the payor if, at any time in the 24 months after the payor made an arrangement under clause 34 (a) or obtained an order under subsection 35 (1) or clause 35 (5) (b), the payor fails to comply with,

(a) the terms of the arrangement made with the Director in response to the first notice;

(b) the terms of an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1); or

(c) the terms of the varied support order and an order respecting payment of arrears under clause 35 (5) (b). 1996, c. 31, s. 36 (1).

Contents

(2) The second notice shall inform the payor that his or her driver’s licence may be suspended,

(a) unless, within 15 days after the day the second notice is served,

(i) the payor complies with clause (1) (a), (b) or (c), or

(ii) the payor pays all arrears owing under the support order; or

(b) if, within 24 months after the payor makes an arrangement under clause (1) (a) or obtains an order under subsection 35 (1) or clause 35 (5) (b), the payor fails to comply with the arrangement or order. 1996, c. 31, s. 36 (2).

Interpretation: arrangement in response to notice

(3) For the purposes of this section, an arrangement is made in response to a first notice if it is made within the time referred to in the first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 36 (3).

Same

(4) An arrangement that is made in response to a first notice and is then amended by agreement in writing remains an arrangement made in response to the first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 36 (4).

Direction to suspend

After first notice

37. (1) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend a payor’s driver’s licence if, within the 30-day period referred to in the first notice, the payor does not,

(a) make an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order;

(b) obtain an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1) and file the order in the Director’s office; or

(c) pay all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 37 (1).

After second notice

(2) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend a payor’s driver’s licence if, within the 15-day period referred to in the second notice or at any time in the 24-month period referred to in the second notice, the payor does not,

(a) comply with clause 36 (1) (a), (b) or (c); or

(b) pay all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 37 (2).

Form of direction

(3) A direction under this section shall be in a form approved by the Director and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. 1996, c. 31, s. 37 (3).

Direction to reinstate

38. (1) The Director shall direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence suspended as a result of a direction under section 37 if,

(a) the payor pays all the arrears owing under the support order;

(b) the payor is complying with the terms of the arrangement made with the Director in response to the first notice;

(c) the payor is complying with the terms of the support order as well as the terms of any order under section 35 or 41 that relates to the support order;

(d) the payor makes an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order; or

(e) the support order is withdrawn under section 16. 1996, c. 31, s. 38 (1).

Notice revived if payor breaches arrangement or order

(2) If the Director directs the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence under clause (1) (b), (c) or (d) and the payor subsequently defaults within 24 months from the date of reinstatement or if the payor subsequently defaults within 24 months after the payor entered into an arrangement under clause 34 (a) or obtained an order under clause 35 (5) (b), the Director may proceed to act in accordance with the last notice that was served on the payor under this Part. 1996, c. 31, s. 38 (2).

Where more than one order in default

(3) Where the payor is in default on one or more other support orders, the Director shall not direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate the driver’s licence unless all arrears under all the support orders are,

(a) paid;

(b) arranged to be paid on terms satisfactory to the Director and the payor is in compliance with such arrangement or arrangements; or

(c) the subject of a court order or orders for payment and the payor is in compliance with such court order or orders. 1996, c. 31, s. 38 (3).

Discretion to reinstate

(4) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence suspended as a result of a direction under section 37 if, in the opinion of the Director, it would be unconscionable not to do so. 1996, c. 31, s. 38 (4).

Form of direction

(5) A direction under this section shall be in a form approved by the Director and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. 1996, c. 31, s. 38 (5).

Anti-avoidance

39. An agreement by the parties to a support order to avoid or prevent its enforcement under this Part is of no effect. 1996, c. 31, s. 39.

PART VI
OTHER ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS

Financial statements

40. (1) The Director may request that a payor who is in default under a support order, where the support order or related support deduction order is filed in the Director’s office, complete and deliver to the Director a financial statement in the form prescribed by the regulations together with such proof of income as may be required by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 40 (1).

Same

(2) The payor shall deliver the completed financial statement to the Director within 15 days after he or she was served with the request to complete the form. 1996, c. 31, s. 40 (2).

Changes in information

(3) If a payor discovers that any information was incomplete or wrong at the time he or she completed the financial statement, he or she shall, within 10 days of the discovery, deliver the corrected information to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 40 (3).

Failure to comply

(4) The Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court, on the motion of the Director, may order a payor to comply with a request under subsection (1) and subsections 41 (6) and (7) apply with necessary modifications. 1996, c. 31, s. 40 (4).

Limitation

(5) The Director may request a financial statement under this section once in any six-month period but this does not restrict the Director’s right to obtain a financial statement under section 41. 1996, c. 31, s. 40 (5).

Default hearing

41. (1) When a support order that is filed in the Director’s office is in default, the Director may prepare a statement of the arrears and, by notice served on the payor together with the statement of arrears, may require the payor to deliver to the Director a financial statement and such proof of income as may be required by the regulations and to appear before the court to explain the default. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (1).

Same

(2) When a support order that is not filed in the Director’s office is in default, the recipient may file a request with the court, together with a statement of arrears, and, on such filing, the clerk of the court shall, by notice served on the payor together with the statement of arrears, require the payor to file a financial statement and appear before the court to explain the default. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (2).

Persons financially connected to payor

(3) The Director or the recipient may, at any time during a default proceeding under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, request that the court order a person who is financially connected to the payor to file a financial statement and any other relevant documents with the court or add such person as a party to the hearing. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (3).

Same

(4) If the court is satisfied that there is some evidence that a person who is financially connected to the payor has sheltered assets or income of the payor such that enforcement of the support order against the payor may be frustrated, the court may, by order, having regard to all the circumstances, including the purpose and effect of the dealings and the benefit or expected benefit therefrom to the payor,

(a) add the person as a party to the hearing;

(b) require the person, whether or not such person has been added as a party under clause (a), to file a financial statement and any other relevant documents with the court. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (4).

Form of statements

(5) A financial statement and statement of arrears required by subsection (2) shall be in the form prescribed by the rules of the court and a financial statement required by subsection (1) or (4) shall be in the form prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (5).

Arrest of payor

(6) Where the payor fails to file the financial statement or to appear as the notice under subsection (1) or (2) requires, the court may issue a warrant for the payor’s arrest for the purpose of bringing him or her before the court. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (6).

Bail

(7) Section 150 (interim release by justice of the peace) of the Provincial Offences Act applies with necessary modifications to an arrest under the warrant. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (7).

Presumptions at hearing

(8) At the default hearing, unless the contrary is shown, the payor shall be presumed to have the ability to pay the arrears and to make subsequent payments under the order, and the statement of arrears prepared and served by the Director shall be presumed to be correct as to arrears accruing while the order is filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (8).

Powers of court

(9) The court may, unless it is satisfied that the payor is unable for valid reasons to pay the arrears or to make subsequent payments under the order, order that the payor,

(a) pay all or part of the arrears by such periodic payments as the court considers just, but an order for partial payment does not discharge any unpaid arrears;

(b) discharge the arrears in full by a specified date;

(c) comply with the order to the extent of the payor’s ability to pay, but an order under this clause does not affect the accruing of arrears;

(d) provide security in such form as the court directs for the arrears and subsequent payment;

(e) report periodically to the court, the Director or a person specified in the order;

(f) provide to the court, the Director or a person specified in the order particulars of any future change of address or employment as soon as they occur;

(g) be imprisoned continuously or intermittently for not more than 90 days unless the arrears are sooner paid; and

(h) be imprisoned continuously or intermittently for not more than 90 days on default in any payment ordered under this subsection. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (9).

Order against person financially connected to payor

(10) If the court is satisfied that a person who was made a party to the hearing under clause (4) (a) sheltered assets or income of the payor such that enforcement of the support order against the payor has been frustrated, the court may, having regard to all the circumstances, including the purpose and effect of the dealings and the benefit or expected benefit therefrom to the payor, make any order against the person that it may make against the payor under clauses (9) (a) to (f) to the extent of the value of the sheltered assets or income and, for the purpose, in clause (9) (c), “payor’s” shall be read as “person’s”. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (10).

Same

(11) Subsections (6) and (7) apply with necessary modifications to a person with respect to whom an order is made under clause (4) (a) or (b). 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (11).

Interim orders

(12) The court may make an interim order against the payor, or a person who was made a party to the hearing under clause (4) (a), that includes any order that may be made under subsection (9) or (10), as the case may be. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (12).

Power to vary order

(13) The court that made an order under subsection (9) or (10) may vary the order on motion if there is a material change in the payor’s or other person’s circumstances, as the case may be. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (13).

Enforcement of order

(14) The Director may enforce an order against a person made under subsection (10), (12) or (13) in the same manner he or she may enforce an order against the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (14).

Imprisonment does not discharge arrears

(15) Imprisonment of a payor under clause (9) (g) or (h) does not discharge arrears under an order. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (15).

Realizing on security

(16) An order for security under clause (9) (d) or a subsequent order of the court may provide for the realization of the security by seizure, sale or other means, as the court directs. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (16).

Proof of service not necessary

(17) Proof of service of a support order on the payor is not necessary for the purpose of a default hearing. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (17).

Joinder of default and variation hearings

(18) A default hearing under this section and a hearing on an application for variation of the support order in default may be held together or separately. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (18).

Spouses compellable witnesses

(19) Spouses are competent and compellable witnesses against each other on a default hearing. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (19).

Records sealed

(20) A financial statement or other document filed under subsection (4) shall be sealed in the court file and shall not be disclosed except as permitted by the order or a subsequent order or as necessary to enforce an order made under subsection (10) or (12) against a person other than the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (20).

Definition

(21) In this section,

“court” means the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court. 1996, c. 31, s. 41 (21).

Registration against land

42. (1) A support order may be registered in the proper land registry office against the payor’s land and on registration the obligation under the order becomes a charge on the property. 1996, c. 31, s. 42 (1).

Sale of property

(2) A charge created by subsection (1) may be enforced by sale of the property against which it is registered in the same manner as a sale to realize on a mortgage. 1996, c. 31, s. 42 (2).

Discharge or postponement of charge

(3) A court may order the discharge, in whole or in part, or the postponement, of a charge created by subsection (1), on such terms as to security or other matters as the court considers just. 1996, c. 31, s. 42 (3).

Director to be served

(4) An order under subsection (3) may be made only after notice to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 42 (4).

Registration under the Personal Property Security Act

43. (1) Arrears owing from time to time under a support order are, upon registration by the Director or the recipient with the registrar under the Personal Property Security Act of a notice claiming a lien and charge under this section, a lien and charge on any interest in all the personal property in Ontario owned or held at the time of registration or acquired afterwards by the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (1).

Amounts included and priority

(2) The lien and charge is in respect of the arrears owed by the payor under a support order at the time of registration of the notice and the arrears owed by the payor under the support order which accrue afterwards while the notice remains registered and, upon registration of a notice of lien and charge, the lien and charge has priority over,

(a) any perfected security interest registered after the notice is registered;

(b) any security interest perfected by possession after the notice is registered; and

(c) any encumbrance or other claim that is registered against or that otherwise arises and affects the payor’s property after the notice is registered. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (2).

Exception

(3) For the purpose of subsection (2), the notice of lien and charge does not have priority over a perfected purchase money security interest in collateral or its proceeds and shall be deemed to be a security interest perfected by registration for the purpose of the priority rules under section 28 of the Personal Property Security Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (3).

Effective period

(4) The notice of lien and charge is effective from the time assigned to its registration by the registrar or branch registrar until its discharge or expiry. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (4).

Secured party

(5) In addition to any other rights and remedies, if any arrears under a support order remain unpaid, the Director or recipient, as the case may be, has, in respect of the lien and charge,

(a) all the rights, remedies and duties of a secured party under sections 17, 59, 61, 62, 63 and 64, subsections 65 (4), (5), (6) and (7) and section 66 of the Personal Property Security Act;

(b) a security interest in the collateral for the purpose of clause 63 (4) (c) of that Act; and

(c) a security interest in the personal property for the purposes of sections 15 and 16 of the Repair and Storage Liens Act, if it is an article as defined in that Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (5).

Registration of documents

(6) The notice of lien and charge shall be in the form of a financing statement as prescribed by regulation under the Personal Property Security Act and may be tendered for registration at a branch office as provided in Part IV of that Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (6).

Errors in documents

(7) The notice of lien and charge is not invalidated nor its effect impaired by reason only of an error or omission in the notice or in its execution or registration, unless a reasonable person is likely to be materially misled by the error or omission. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (7).

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) unaffected

(8) Subject to Crown rights provided under section 87 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), nothing in this section affects or purports to affect the rights and obligations of any person under that Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 43 (8).

Writs of seizure and sale – amending amounts owing

44. (1) If a writ of seizure and sale is filed with a sheriff in respect of a support order, the person who filed the writ may at any time file with the sheriff a statutory declaration specifying the amount currently owing under the order. 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (1).

Same

(2) When a statutory declaration is filed under subsection (1), the writ of seizure and sale shall be deemed to be amended to specify the amount owing in accordance with the statutory declaration. 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (2).

Notice from sheriff of opportunity to amend writ

(3) A sheriff who comes into possession of money to be paid out under a writ of seizure and sale in respect of a support order shall, not later than seven days after making the entry required by subsection 5 (1) of the Creditors’ Relief Act, give notice to the person who filed the writ of the opportunity to file a statutory declaration under subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (3).

Same

(4) A sheriff who receives a request for information about the amount owing under a writ of seizure and sale in respect of a support order from a person seeking to have the writ removed from the sheriff’s file shall promptly give notice to the person who filed the writ of the opportunity to file a statutory declaration under subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (4).

Removal of writ from sheriff’s file

(5) A sheriff shall not remove a writ of seizure and sale in respect of a support order from his or her file unless,

(a) the writ has expired and has not been renewed;

(b) the sheriff receives written notice from the person who filed the writ to the effect that the writ should be withdrawn;

(c) notice is given under subsection (3) or (4), a statutory declaration is subsequently filed under subsection (1) and the writ, as deemed to be amended under subsection (2), has been fully satisfied; or

(d) notice is given under subsection (3) or (4), 10 days have elapsed since the notice was given, no statutory declaration has been filed under subsection (1) since the giving of the notice and the writ has been fully satisfied. 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (5).

Delivery of statutory declaration to land registrar

(6) If a copy of a writ of seizure and sale has been delivered by the sheriff to a land registrar under section 136 of the Land Titles Act and a statutory declaration is filed under subsection (1) in respect of the writ, the sheriff shall promptly deliver a copy of the statutory declaration to the land registrar and the amendment deemed to be made to the writ under subsection (2) does not bind land registered under the Land Titles Act until a copy of the statutory declaration has been received and recorded by the land registrar. 1996, c. 31, s. 44 (6).

Garnishment of joint accounts

45. (1) Upon being served on a financial institution, a notice of garnishment issued by the Director to enforce a support order against a payor attaches 50 per cent of the money credited to a deposit account held in the financial institution in the name of the payor together with one or more other persons as joint or joint and several deposit account holders, and the financial institution shall pay up to 50 per cent of the money credited to the deposit account to the Director in accordance with the notice of garnishment. 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (1).

Duties of financial institution

(2) The financial institution shall, within 10 days of being served with the notice of garnishment,

(a) pay the money to the Director and, at the same time, notify the Director if the account is held jointly or jointly and severally in the name of two or more persons; and

(b) notify the co-holders of the account who are not named in the notice of garnishment of the garnishment. 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (2).

Dispute by co-holder

(3) Within 30 days after the financial institution notified the Director under clause (2) (a), a co-holder of the deposit account may file a dispute to the garnishment in the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court claiming ownership of all or part of the money that the financial institution paid to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (3).

Director to hold money for 30 days

(4) If the financial institution notifies the Director under clause (2) (a), the Director shall not release the money received under subsection (1) until 30 days after the financial institution so notified the Director, and the Director may release the money after the 30 days unless a co-holder of the deposit account first serves on the Director a copy of the dispute to the garnishment that the co-holder filed under subsection (3). 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (4).

Determination by court

(5) In a hearing to determine the dispute to the garnishment, the money paid to the Director shall be presumed to be owned by the payor and the court shall order,

(a) that the garnishment be limited to the payor’s interest in the money that was paid to the Director; and

(b) that all or part of the money that was paid to the Director be returned to the co-holder only if it is satisfied that the co-holder owns that money. 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (5).

Payment by Director

(6) Upon receipt of a copy of the court’s order, the Director shall return to the co-holder any money determined by the court to belong to the co-holder and may release any remaining money, if any, to the recipient. 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (6).

Action by joint account co-holder against payor

(7) A co-holder may bring an action against the payor in a court of competent jurisdiction,

(a) to recover any money owned by the co-holder that was paid to the Director under subsection (1);

(b) to recover any interest that the co-holder would have earned on the money owned by the co-holder that was paid to the Director under subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (7).

Director and recipient are not parties

(8) The Director and the recipient are not parties to an action under subsection (7). 1996, c. 31, s. 45 (8).

Definition

(9) In this section,

“deposit account” includes a deposit as defined in the Deposits Regulation Act and a demand account, time account, savings account, passbook account, checking account, current account and other similar accounts in,

(a) a bank listed in Schedule I or II to the Bank Act (Canada),

(b) a loan corporation or trust corporation as defined in the Loan and Trust Corporations Act,

(c) a credit union as defined in the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 1994, or

(d) a similar institution.

(e) Repealed: 2002, c. 8, Sched. I, s. 11.

1996, c. 31, s. 45 (9); 2002, c. 8, Sched. I, s. 11.

Garnishment of lottery prizes

46. (1) In this section,

“Corporation” means the Ontario Lottery Corporation; (“Société”)

“lottery” means a lottery scheme, as defined in section 1 of the Ontario Lottery Corporation Act, that is conducted by the Corporation in Ontario and involves the issuance and sale of tickets; (“loterie”)

“prize” means a prize in a lottery. (“prix”) 1999, c. 12, Sched. B, s. 8.

Deduction of arrears from prize

(2) If a payor who owes arrears under a support order that is filed in the Director’s office is entitled to a single monetary prize of $1,000 or more from the Corporation, the Corporation shall,

(a) deduct from the prize the amount of the arrears or the amount of the prize, whichever is less;

(b) pay the amount deducted to the Director; and

(c) pay any balance to the payor. 1999, c. 12, Sched. B, s. 8.

Non-monetary prize

(3) If a payor who owes arrears under a support order that is filed in the Director’s office is entitled to a non-monetary prize from the Corporation that the Corporation values at $1,000 or more, the Corporation shall promptly disclose to the Director,

(a) any identifying information about the payor from the Corporation’s records, including his or her name and address; and

(b) a complete description of the prize. 1999, c. 12, Sched. B, s. 8.

Exchange of information

(4) For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3),

(a) the Director shall disclose to the Corporation any identifying information about payors from the Director’s records, including their names and addresses and the status and particulars of their support obligations; and

(b) the Corporation shall disclose to the Director any identifying information about prize winners from its records, including their names and addresses. 1999, c. 12, Sched. B, s. 8.

Defaulters reported to consumer reporting agencies

47. The Director may disclose to a consumer reporting agency registered under the Consumer Reporting Act,

(a) the name of a payor who is in default on a support order filed in the Director’s office;

(b) the date of the support order;

(c) the amount and frequency of the payor’s support obligation under the support order;

(d) the amount of the arrears owing under the support order at the time of the disclosure; and

(e) such other information as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 31, s. 47.

Restraining order

48. A court, including the Ontario Court (Provincial Division), may make an order restraining the disposition or wasting of assets that may hinder or defeat the enforcement of a support order or support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 48.

Arrest of absconding payor

49. (1) The Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or the Family Court may issue a warrant for a payor’s arrest for the purpose of bringing him or her before the court if the court is satisfied that the payor is about to leave Ontario and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the payor intends to evade his or her obligations under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 49 (1).

Bail

(2) Section 150 (interim release by justice of the peace) of the Provincial Offences Act applies with necessary modifications to an arrest under the warrant. 1996, c. 31, s. 49 (2).

Powers of court

(3) When the payor is brought before the court, it may make any order provided for in subsection 41 (9). 1996, c. 31, s. 49 (3).

Recognition of extra-provincial garnishments

50. (1) On the filing of a garnishment process that,

(a) is issued outside Ontario and is directed to a garnishee in Ontario;

(b) states that it is issued in respect of support or maintenance; and

(c) is written in or accompanied by a sworn or certified translation into English or French,

the clerk of the Ontario Court (Provincial Division) or Family Court shall issue a notice of garnishment to enforce the support or maintenance obligation. 1996, c. 31, s. 50 (1).

Foreign currencies

(2) If the garnishment process refers to an obligation in a foreign currency, section 44 of the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act, 2002 applies with necessary modifications. 1996, c. 31, s. 50 (2); 2002, c. 13, s. 57 (3).

PART VII
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Offences – payors, income sources, etc.

Payors

51. (1) A payor who knowingly contravenes or knowingly fails to comply with section 19 or subsection 25 (1) or (2) or 40 (2) or (3) is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 51 (1).

Income sources

(2) An income source who knowingly contravenes or knowingly fails to comply with subsection 22 (2) or 25 (1) or (2) or section 29 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 51 (2).

Individuals, etc., believed to be an income source

(3) An individual, corporation or other entity that knowingly contravenes or knowingly fails to comply with subsection 26 (1) or section 29 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 51 (3).

Offences – assignees

52. (1) An assignee under section 4 who knowingly contravenes or knowingly fails to comply with this Act or its regulations or the limitations, conditions or requirements set out in the assignment is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 52 (1).

Same – directors, officers, employees, agents

(2) A director, officer, employee or agent of an assignee who commits an offence described in subsection (1) on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 52 (2).

Same – directors, officers

(3) A director or officer of an assignee is guilty of an offence if he or she,

(a) knowingly causes, authorizes, permits or participates in the commission of an offence described in subsection (1); or

(b) fails to take reasonable care to prevent the commission of an offence described in subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 52 (3).

Penalty

(4) A person who is convicted of an offence under subsection (3) is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000. 1996, c. 31, s. 52 (4).

Contempt

53. (1) In addition to its powers in respect of contempt, a court, including the Ontario Court (Provincial Division), may punish by fine or imprisonment, or by both, any wilful contempt of, or resistance to, its process, rules or orders under this Act, but the fine shall not exceed $10,000 nor shall the imprisonment exceed 90 days. 1996, c. 31, s. 53 (1).

Conditions of imprisonment

(2) An order for imprisonment under subsection (1) may be conditional upon default in the performance of a condition set out in the order and may provide for the imprisonment to be served intermittently. 1996, c. 31, s. 53 (2).

PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

Director’s access to information

54. (1) The Director may, for the purpose of enforcing a support order or support deduction order filed in the Director’s office or for the purpose of assisting an office or person in another jurisdiction performing similar functions to those performed by the Director,

(a) demand from any person or public body information from a record in the person’s or public body’s possession or control that indicates the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of a payor or payors;

(b) subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4), have access to all records that may indicate the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of a payor or payors and that are in the possession or control of any ministry, agency, board or commission of the Government of Ontario in order to search for and obtain such information from those records;

(c) enter into an agreement with any person or public body, including the Government of Canada, a Crown corporation, the government of another province or territory or any agency, board or commission of such government, to permit the Director to have access to a record in the person’s or public body’s possession or control that may indicate the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of a payor or payors in order to search for and obtain such information from the record; and

(d) disclose information obtained under clause (a), (b) or (c) to a person performing similar functions to the Director in another jurisdiction. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (1).

Access to part of records

(2) Where the record referred to in clause (1) (b) is part of a larger record, the Director,

(a) may have access to that part of the record that may indicate the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of a payor or payors; and

(b) may have incidental access to any other information contained in the part of the record referred to in clause (a) but may not use or disclose such information. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (2).

Same

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), “larger record” and “part of the record” shall be defined by regulation. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (3).

Restriction on access to health information

(4) Despite subsection (2), if a record described in clause (1) (b) contains health information, as defined in the regulations, the Director shall not have access to the health information but shall have access only to the part of the record that may indicate the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of a payor or payors. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (4).

Information confidential

(5) Information obtained under subsection (1) shall not be disclosed except,

(a) to the extent necessary for the enforcement of the support order or support deduction order;

(b) as provided in clause (1) (d); or

(c) to a police officer who needs the information for a criminal investigation that is likely to assist the enforcement of the support order or support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (5).

Order of court for access to information

(6) If, on motion to a court, it appears that,

(a) the Director has been refused information after making a demand under clause (1) (a);

(b) the Director has been refused access to a record under clause (1) (b); or

(c) a person needs an order under this subsection for the enforcement of a support order that is not filed in the Director’s office,

the court may order any person or public body to provide the court or the person whom the court names with any information that is shown on a record in the possession or control of the person or public body and indicates the employer, place of employment, wages, salary, other income, assets, liabilities, address or location of the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (6).

Costs

(7) If the Director obtains an order under clause (6) (a) or (b), the court shall award the costs of the motion to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (7).

Information confidential

(8) Information obtained under an order under clause (6) (c) shall be sealed in the court file and shall not be disclosed except,

(a) as permitted by the order or a subsequent order;

(b) to the extent necessary for the enforcement of the support order or support deduction order;

(c) as provided in clause (1) (d); or

(d) to a police officer who needs the information for a criminal investigation that is likely to assist the enforcement of the support order or support deduction order. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (8).

Section governs

(9) This section applies despite any other Act or regulation and despite any common law rule of confidentiality. 1996, c. 31, s. 54 (9).

Federal-provincial agreement

55. (1) The Attorney General may, on behalf of the Government of Ontario, enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada concerning the searching for and the release of information under Part I of the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada). 1996, c. 31, s. 55 (1).

Information obtained from federal government

(2) The Director shall not disclose information obtained under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Canada) for the enforcement of a support order, except,

(a) to the extent necessary for the enforcement of the order; or

(b) as permitted by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 55 (2).

Payments pending court decisions

56. (1) The Director shall pay any money he or she receives in respect of a support order or a support deduction order to the recipient despite the commencement of any court proceeding in respect of the support obligation or its enforcement, in the absence of a court order to the contrary. 1996, c. 31, s. 56 (1).

Exception

(2) If a court orders the Director to hold any of the money received in respect of a support order or a support deduction order pending the disposition of the proceeding, the Director shall, upon receipt of a copy of the order, hold any money he or she receives to the extent required by the court. 1996, c. 31, s. 56 (2).

Application of payments

57. (1) Money paid to the Director on account of a support order or support deduction order shall be credited as prescribed by the regulations. 1996, c. 31, s. 57 (1).

Same

(2) Despite anything in this Act, the payor shall not be credited with making a payment until the money for that payment is received by the Director and if a payment is made but not honoured, the amount of the payment shall be added to the support arrears owed by the payor. 1996, c. 31, s. 57 (2).

Fees

58. (1) The Director shall not charge any fee to any person for his or her services except as provided by regulation. 1996, c. 31, s. 58 (1).

Enforcement of orders to collect fees, etc.

(2) The Director may continue to enforce a support order or support deduction order to collect fees, costs ordered by a court to the Director and any amount owed to the Director as reimbursement for money paid to a recipient, even if the support order or support deduction order with respect to which the fees, costs or other debt were incurred has been withdrawn from the Director’s office or if the arrears of support under such order have been ordered rescinded or if the support obligation has terminated. 1996, c. 31, s. 58 (2).

Protection from personal liability

59. (1) No action or other proceeding for damages shall be instituted against the Director or any employee of the Director’s office for any act done in good faith in the execution or intended execution of any duty or authority under this Act or for any alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of any duty or authority under this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 59 (1).

Crown not relieved of liability

(2) Despite subsections 5 (2) and (4) of the Proceedings Against the Crown Act, subsection (1) does not relieve the Crown of liability in respect of a tort committed by a person mentioned in subsection (1) to which it would otherwise be subject. 1996, c. 31, s. 59 (2).

Acting by lawyer

60. Anything that this Act requires to be signed or done by a person, or that is referred to in this Act as signed or done by a person, may be signed or done by a lawyer acting on the person’s behalf. 1996, c. 31, s. 60.

Disclosure of personal information

61. (1) The Director shall collect, disclose and use personal information about an identifiable individual for the purpose of enforcing a support order or a support deduction order under this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 61 (1).

Same

(2) Any person, agency, board, commission or body that is referred to in section 54 shall disclose personal information about an identifiable individual to the Director for the purpose of that section. 1996, c. 31, s. 61 (2).

Notice to individual not required

(3) Subsection 39 (2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act does not apply to the collection of personal information about an identifiable individual under this Act. 1996, c. 31, s. 61 (3).

Act prevails over confidentiality provisions

(4) This Act prevails over a confidentiality provision in another Act that would, if not for this Act, prohibit the disclosure of information to the Director. 1996, c. 31, s. 61 (4).

Act binds Crown

62. This Act binds the Crown. 1996, c. 31, s. 62.

Regulations

63. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) prescribing forms and providing for their use;

(b) prescribing types of income for the purposes of clause (l) of the definition of “income source” in subsection 1 (1);

(c) prescribing the manner of calculating a cost of living clause for the purposes of subsections 7 (4), (5), (6) and (7);

(d) prescribing classes of persons and information to be supplied to the court and the manner in which information is to be supplied for the purposes of subsections 11 (2) and (3);

(e) prescribing practices and procedures related to the filing and withdrawal of support orders and support deduction orders and to the enforcement, suspension and termination of such orders filed in the Director’s office;

(f) prescribing deductions for the purposes of subsection 23 (5);

(g) prescribing information that shall be supplied under subsection 25 (1);

(h) governing the form and posting of security by a payor under section 28 and the realization thereon;

(i) respecting proof of income for the purposes of sections 40 and 41;

(j) prescribing other information that may be disclosed by the Director to a consumer reporting agency under subsection 47 (1);

(k) prescribing fees to be charged by the Director for administrative services, including preparing and photocopying documents on request, prescribing fees for repeated filings of a support order or support deduction order, as specified in the regulations, and prescribing fees for any steps taken by the Director to enforce a support order in response to the persistent or wilful default by a payor;

(l) prescribing the maximum fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges, or a method for determining the maximum fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges, that an assignee under section 4 may charge a payor, including fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges for services for which the Director is not permitted to charge and including fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges or other charges that are higher than the fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges that the Director may charge for the same service, prescribing how and when such fees, costs, disbursements, surcharges and other charges may be collected, prescribing the manner in which they may be applied and prescribing the rate of interest to be charged on any of them;

(m) prescribing methods of and rules respecting service, filing and notice for the purposes of this Act, including different methods and rules for different provisions and different methods and rules for service on or notice to the Crown;

(n) providing that a support deduction order is not effective against the Crown unless a statement of particulars in the prescribed form is served with the notice of the order;

(o) defining “larger record” and “part of the record” for the purpose of subsection 54 (2) and defining “health information” for the purpose of subsection 54 (4);

(p) prescribing the manner in which payments received by the Director are to be credited;

(q) prescribing anything that is required or authorized by this Act to be prescribed. 1996, c. 31, s. 63.

Note: Section 64 comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. See: 1996, c. 31, s. 74.

Re-enactment of Part V

64. On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, Part V of this Act is repealed and the following substituted:

PART V
SUSPENSION OF DRIVERS’ LICENCES AND VEHICLE PERMITS

Definitions, Part V

33. In this Part,

“driver’s licence” has the same meaning as in subsection 1 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act; (“permis de conduire”)

“permit” means a permit, or a portion of a permit, issued exclusively in the name of an individual under subsection 7 (7) of the Highway Traffic Act, but does not include a permit issued in respect of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in subsection 16 (1) of that Act, or in respect of a trailer. (“certificat d’immatriculation”) 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

First notice

34. When a support order that is filed in the Director’s office is in default, the Director may serve a first notice on the payor, informing the payor that his or her driver’s licence and permit may be suspended and his or her permit may not be validated and he or she may be refused issuance of a new permit unless, within 30 days after the day the first notice is served,

(a) the payor makes an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order and for paying the arrears owing under the support order;

(b) the payor obtains an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1) and files the order in the Director’s office; or

(c) the payor pays all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Order to refrain

35. (1) A payor who receives a first notice may, on notice to the Director, in an application to vary the support order, make a motion for an order that the Director refrain from making a direction under subsection 37 (1) on the terms that the court considers just. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Exception

(2) Despite subsection (1), a motion for an order that the Director refrain from directing the suspension of the payor’s driver’s licence may be made before the commencement of an application to vary the support order on the undertaking of the payor or the payor’s solicitor to commence the proceeding forthwith. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Time limits and variation

(3) A court shall not make an order to refrain after the 30-day period referred to in the first notice, but an order to refrain may be varied, on motion by the payor or the Director, at any time before the application to vary support is determined if there is a material change in the payor’s circumstances. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Same

(4) A court may make an order to refrain only within the 30-day period referred to in the first notice and may make only one order to refrain in respect of any first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Order re arrears

(5) When determining the variation application, a court that makes an order to refrain,

(a) shall state the amount of the arrears owing, after any variation; and

(b) may make an order respecting payment of the arrears. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Same

(6) For the purpose of clause (5) (b), the court may make any order that may be made under clause 41 (9) (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) or subsection 41 (16) and, in the case of an order provided for in clause 41 (9) (g) or (h), imprisonment does not discharge arrears under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

When Director is a party

(7) The Director is not a party to an application to vary a support order referred to in subsection (1), but the Director and the payor are the only parties to a motion under subsection (1) for an order to refrain. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Filing with Director’s office

(8) The court shall file a copy of the order in the Director’s office promptly after the order is signed. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Form and effective date

(9) An order to refrain shall be in the form prescribed by the regulations and takes effect only when it is filed in the Director’s office. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Duration of order

(10) An order to refrain terminates on the earliest of the day the application to vary is determined, the day the support order is withdrawn from the Director’s office and the day that is six months after the order to refrain is made. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Exception

(11) Despite subsection (10), an order to refrain made before the commencement of an application to vary the support order is automatically terminated if the payor does not commence the application within 20 days of the date of the order to refrain. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Extension of order

(12) The court that makes an order to refrain may, on a motion by the payor before the order terminates and with notice to the Director, extend the order for one further period of three months. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Application of order

(13) An order to refrain is applicable only to the notice in respect of which the motion was made under subsection (1). 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Second notice

36. (1) The Director may serve a second notice on the payor if, at any time in the 24 months after the payor made an arrangement under clause 34 (a) or obtained an order under subsection 35 (1) or clause 35 (5) (b), the payor fails to comply with,

(a) the terms of the arrangement made with the Director in response to the first notice;

(b) the terms of an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1); or

(c) the terms of the varied support order and an order respecting payment of arrears under clause 35 (5) (b). 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Contents

(2) The second notice shall inform the payor that his or her driver’s licence and permit may be suspended, his or her permit may not be validated and he or she may be refused issuance of a new permit,

(a) unless, within 15 days after the day the second notice is served,

(i) the payor complies with clause (1) (a), (b) or (c), or

(ii) the payor pays all arrears owing under the support order; or

(b) if, within 24 months after the payor makes an arrangement under clause (1) (a) or obtains an order under subsection 35 (1) or clause 35 (5) (b), the payor fails to comply with the arrangement or order. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Interpretation: arrangement in response to notice

(3) For the purposes of this section, an arrangement is made in response to a first notice if it is made within the time referred to in the first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Same

(4) An arrangement that is made in response to a first notice and is then amended by agreement in writing remains an arrangement made in response to the first notice. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Direction to suspend

After first notice

37. (1) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend a payor’s driver’s licence and permit or to refuse to validate his or her permit or to refuse to issue a new permit to the payor if, within the 30-day period referred to in the first notice, the payor does not,

(a) make an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order;

(b) obtain an order to refrain under subsection 35 (1) and file the order in the Director’s office; or

(c) pay all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

After second notice

(2) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to suspend a payor’s driver’s licence and permit or to refuse to validate his or her permit or to refuse to issue a new permit to the payor if, within the 15-day period referred to in the second notice or at any time in the 24-month period referred to in the second notice, the payor does not,

(a) comply with clause 36 (1) (a), (b) or (c); or

(b) pay all arrears owing under the support order. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Form of direction

(3) A direction under this section shall be in a form approved by the Director and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and may contain any one or more of the directions that the Director is permitted to make under this section. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Direction to reinstate

38. (1) The Director shall direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence and permit suspended as a result of a direction under section 37 and to rescind a direction under section 37 to refuse to validate a permit or to refuse to issue a new permit to the payor if,

(a) the payor pays all the arrears owing under the support order;

(b) the payor is complying with the terms of the arrangement made with the Director in response to the first notice;

(c) the payor is complying with the terms of the support order as well as the terms of any order under section 35 or 41 that relates to the support order;

(d) the payor makes an arrangement satisfactory to the Director for complying with the support order;

(e) the support order is withdrawn under section 16; or

(f) in the case of a permit issued in respect of a vehicle that is registered as a security interest under the Personal Property Security Act, the secured party enforces on the security interest and requests that the Director direct the reinstatement of the permit for that purpose. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Notice revived if payor breaches arrangement or order

(2) If the Director directs the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under clause (1) (b), (c) or (d) and the payor subsequently defaults within 24 months from the date of reinstatement or if the payor subsequently defaults within 24 months after the payor entered into an arrangement under clause 34 (a) or obtained an order under clause 35 (5) (b), the Director may proceed to act in accordance with the last notice that was served on the payor under this Part. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Where more than one order in default

(3) Where the payor is in default on one or more other support orders, the Director shall not direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence or permit or to validate a permit or issue a new permit unless all arrears under all the support orders are,

(a) paid;

(b) arranged to be paid on terms satisfactory to the Director and the payor is in compliance with such arrangement or arrangements; or

(c) the subject of a court order or orders for payment and the payor is in compliance with such court order or orders. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Discretion to reinstate

(4) The Director may direct the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver’s licence or permit suspended as a result of a direction under section 37 or to validate a permit or issue a new permit if the validation or issuance was refused as a result of a direction under section 37 if, in the opinion of the Director, it would be unconscionable not to do so. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Form of direction

(5) A direction under this section shall be in a form approved by the Director and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and may contain one or more of the directions that the Director is permitted to make under this section. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

Anti-avoidance

39. An agreement by the parties to a support order to avoid or prevent its enforcement under this Part is of no effect. 1996, c. 31, s. 64.

65.-73. Omitted (amends or repeals other Acts). 1996, c. 31, ss. 65-73.

74. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act). 1996, c. 31, s. 74.

75. Omitted (enacts short title of this Act). 1996, c. 31, s. 75.

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Note: The following transitional provisions were enacted as section 73 to the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996. See: 1996, c. 31, ss. 73, 74.

Repeals and transition

Repeals

73. (1) The Family Support Plan Act and the Family Support Plan Amendment Act, 1991 are repealed.

Transition

(2) Despite subsection (1), any document and any court order that refers to the Family Support Plan or the Director of the Family Support Plan or the Family Support Plan Act is valid and shall be read as if it referred, respectively, to the Family Responsibility Office, the Director of the Family Responsibility Office or the Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act, 1996.

Same

(3) Despite subsection (1), any action taken in the name of the Director of the Family Support Plan or taken by or against the Director of the Family Support Plan before subsection (1) comes into force may be continued by, against or on behalf of the Director of the Family Responsibility Office and subsection (2) applies in respect of such action.

Same

(4) Despite subsection (1), the Director of the Family Responsibility Office may continue to use the title Director of the Family Support Plan for a period of one year after subsection (1) comes into force and may, during that time, take any action and create and issue any documents in the name of the Director of the Family Support Plan and subsection (2) applies to any document created or issued or court order made in that period.

Same

(5) Despite subsection (1), the regulations made under the Family Support Plan Act and in force immediately before subsection (1) comes into force continue in force, with necessary modifications, as if they had been made under this Act and they may be amended or revoked under this Act by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

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