Debtor Assistance Program

The Debtor Assistance Program is designed to offer counselling to those facing financial difficulty. Counsellors may offer assistance in preparing a family budget, or assist clients who qualify to present a consumer proposal. Staff will be pleased to review all program options through the Debtor Assistance Program. This program is administered by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Debtor Assistance - Budget Worksheet*

For more information call
Local: 424-5200
Toll free: 1-800-670-4357

For more information call
Local: 424-5200
Toll free: 1-800-670-4357
For the service location nearest you, click here.

Consumer Proposals

Consumer proposals are designed to provide you with an opportunity to make a proposal to your creditors to pay off your debts. You may make a proposal to your creditors to pay off a percentage of your debt, extend the time you have to pay off the debt, or propose some combination of both. Consumer proposals are administered by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations under the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

If you are facing financial difficulty, you may make an appointment to meet with staff of this Section.
A counsellor will ask that you provide information on your financial situation - and together you will discuss the best option for you.

Options available include budget counselling, consumer proposals, or personal bankruptcy.

Some of the benefits of a consumer proposal are that your creditors may not be able to take legal steps to recover the debt from you (such as seizing property or garnishing wages). If you have debts less than $75,000 (not including a mortgage on your residence) you may be eligible to make a proposal. Staff will discuss your financial situation, and work with you to develop a proposal that’s best for you and your creditors. A report is filed with your creditors and with the Official Receiver. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations presents the consumer proposal to your creditors and asks them to indicate if they accept or reject the terms. An Administrator will call a meeting of creditors if necessary. Creditors have up to 45 days to indicate if they wish to have a meeting of creditors. If the creditor responds positively, or does not respond, the proposal is considered accepted. If a sufficient number of creditors accept the proposal, it becomes binding on you and all of your creditors under the consumer proposal. If your consumer proposal is accepted, you must comply with the terms of the proposal. If you stop making payments, the proposal is no longer valid. Your creditors could then claim the full amount owed to them before the proposal (minus what you paid during the proposal). There is a fee to make a consumer proposal which is collected from your payments to your creditors.

For more information call
Local: 424-5200
Toll free: 1-800-670-4357