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Payday loans in Canada

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Payday loans in Canada are permitted under section 347.1 of the Criminal Code, so long as the province of the borrower has enacted sufficient provincial legislation concerning the provisioning of payday loans. In the event that no such provincial legislation exists (as is the case in New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador) payday loans are limited by usury laws, with any effective (compound) rate of interest charged above 60% per annum considered criminal. However, so far this has not been enforced by Newfoundland and Labrador.

On August 14, 2006, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued its decision in a class action lawsuit against A OK Payday Loans.[1] A OK charged its customers 21% interest, as well as a "processing" fee of C$9.50 for every $50.00 borrowed.[1] In addition a "deferral" fee of $25.00 for every $100.00 was charged if a customer wanted to delay payment. The judge ruled that the processing and deferral fees were interest, and that A OK was charging its customers a criminal rate of interest. The payout as a result of this decision is expected to be several million dollars.[2] The British Columbia Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed this decision.[3]

Provincial regulations

File:24 Hour Payday Loan Outlet on Yonge St Toronto.jpg
24-hour payday loan outlet on Yonge St. Toronto, Ontario

In 2006, Parliament amended the Criminal Code to allow the provinces to regulate the payday loan industry.[4]

Every province other than Newfoundland and Labrador has enacted some legislation to deal with payday loan restrictions since 2006, although New Brunswick is still incomplete.

British Columbia

Since November 1, 2009, the Payday Loans Regulation (under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act)[5] have been in force in British Columbia. The maximum charges for short term loans have been capped at 23% of the principal (including interests and fees), the borrower can cancel the loan by the end of the following day of signing the agreement without paying any charge, only one loan per borrower at a time is permitted, and the lender's ability to access the borrower's bank or employer has been restricted. In addition, lenders are prohibited from lending more than 50 percent of a borrower's take-home pay or requiring repayment before the borrower's next payday. All lenders are required to register and are regulated under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (also known as Consumer Protection BC).[6]

Alberta

Alberta allows payday loans at rates up to 23%.[citation needed]

Saskatchewan

In June 2010, the government of Saskatchewan announced regulations on payday loans similar to those in British Columbia. They include an interest rate cap of 23% of the principal, a cap of 30% on a defaulted loan, and a borrowing limit of 50% of the net amount of the individual's next pay. Companies offering payday loans will be charged a licensing fee of $2,000 per location.[7]

On January 1, 2012, The Payday Loans Act 2012 came into effect in Saskatchewan.[8]

Manitoba

Manitoba has the most restrictive rates of any province that permits payday loans at 17% per two weeks.[9] Additionally, any subsequent loans taken out by the same customer within a certain time period are limited to 5%.[9]

Ontario

Ontario enacted the Payday Loans Act, 2008 [10] to limit the fees charged on loans in Ontario to $21 per $100 borrowed for a period of two weeks.[11] The effective annual interest rate is 14,299%((1.21^(365/14)-1)*100), while the equivalent annual simple interest rate is 548% ((0.21*(365/14))*100).

There are several agencies that outline consumer rights in Ontario, including Consumer Protection Ontario, "awareness program from Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and other public organizations, known as administrative authorities, that promote consumer rights and public safety."[12]

The government introduced a new bill, Bill 156, Alternative Financial Services Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015 on December 9, 2015 "that will increase protections for consumers who use high-cost alternative financial services, such as payday loans, rent-to-own services, high-cost instalment loans and services to cash government issued cheques. This legislation will also better protect those with debts in collection." As of March 13, 2016, it has received first reading and is not yet law.[13]

On April 20, 2016, the Ontario government issued a press release [14] seeking input on lower rates for payday loans. The government is looking at leaving the maximum rate unchanged at 14,299% ($21 per $100 for two weeks), or lowering it to 9,224% ($19 per $100 for two weeks), lowering it to 5,894% ($17 per $100 for two weeks, or lowering it to 3,724% ($15 per $100 for two weeks). Ontario has over 800 payday lenders and loan brokers. The average payday loan in Ontario is $435 over 16 days.

In February 2013 the province is attempting to revoke the licence of Edmonton-based The Cash Store to operate in the province due to violations of the Act.[15]

Quebec

Quebec has chosen to limit interest on all loans to 35% annual interest, effectively banning the industry from the province.[16]

New Brunswick

In 2008, the province of New Brunswick laid out a regulatory framework for licensing payday lenders but has not yet determined the maximum interest rates. Until this occurs, the federal government is unable to issue an exemption to the province under Criminal Code section 347.1 making payday loans effectively illegal at any rate over 60% per annum.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia used to permit payday loans at 31%, but this has been reduced the maximum rate to 25%.[citation needed]

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island has imposed a limit of fees charged on loans to $25 per $100 borrowed for a period of two weeks.[17] The effective annual interest rate is 33,519%((1.25^(365/14)-1)*100), while the equivalent annual simple interest rate is 652% ((0.25*(365/14))*100).

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador has enacted no legislation on the matter, thereby leaving any restrictions up to the federal government's cap of 60%. Since the effective annual interest rates on payday loans are typically over 5,000% (Manitoba with the lowest rate of $17 per $100 borrowed, (1.17^(365/14)-1)* 100)), this makes payday loans effectively illegal in the provinces. However, it appears that a payday loan industry exists in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the provincial prosecutors determining "the prosecution of those offences was not in the public interest."[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Kilroy v. A OK Payday Loans Inc.
  2. ^ Kilroy v. A OK Payday Loans Inc., 2006 BCSC 1213 (2006).
  3. ^ Kilroy v. A OK Payday Loans Inc., 2007 BCCA 231 (2007).
  4. ^ Bill C-26: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate)
  5. ^ Payday Loans Regulation
  6. ^ Government moves to regulate payday lenders
  7. ^ "Payday loans to be regulated in Sask". CBC News. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "OC 625/2011 - Proclaim The Payday Loans Act on Sunday, January 1, 2012 (Minister of Justice and Attorney General)". Government of Saskatchewan Publications Center. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. ^ a b http://www.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo/faq_payday_c.html
  10. ^ "Payday Loans Act, 2008". Payday Loans Act, 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Ontario Regulation 98/09". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  12. ^ https://www.ontario.ca/page/payday-loan-your-rights
  13. ^ http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=3633&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill
  14. ^ https://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2016/04/ontario-seeking-input-on-lower-rates-for-payday-loans.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=o
  15. ^ Crawley, Mike (5 February 2013). "Ontario wants to revoke licence of payday cash stores". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  16. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/payday-loans-predatory-loan-sharks-or-crucial-fix-in-a-pinch/article24463029/
  17. ^ "Payday loans regulated on P.E.I., 6 years later". CBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  18. ^ Antle, Rob. "Prosecutors opt against N.L. payday loan criminal charges". CBC News. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
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