The Saskatchewan government has passed a new law aimed at improving the enforcement of child and spousal support payments, particularly when one party lives outside the province or country. This move comes as the province grapples with some of the lowest compliance rates in Canada, with nearly a quarter of support payers falling into arrears.
Low Compliance Rates in Saskatchewan
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada for 2020-2021, Saskatchewan ranked lowest among eight jurisdictions with a 77 percent compliance rate for child and spousal support payments. In contrast, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island reported full compliance. Out of 4,880 cases in Saskatchewan during that period, only 20 percent saw full monthly payments. The Ministry of Justice could not provide more up-to-date data when requested.
Impact on Families and Advocates
Crystal Giesbrecht, director of research for the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS), highlighted the challenges faced by separated families. She noted that many women experience ongoing family law matters that last for years, and perpetrators of intimate partner violence often fail to pay despite valid court orders. PATHS represents agencies that provide shelter, housing, and counselling to survivors.
The New Law: Inter-jurisdictional Support Orders Amendment Act, 2025
The Inter-jurisdictional Support Orders Amendment Act, 2025, was passed in the Saskatchewan legislature last month. However, the province is still working with federal counterparts to bring it into force, and no timeline has been provided. The act aims to streamline the process for registering and enforcing support orders across provincial and national borders, potentially benefiting more children by ensuring they receive financial support even if a parent lives elsewhere.
The law aligns Saskatchewan's procedures with other jurisdictions, facilitating access to court-ordered assistance outside the province. It also applies to spousal support when part of a child support order.
Current Caseload Statistics
According to the Ministry of Justice, 7,279 support cases were registered in 2025-26. Of these, 67 percent involved payers living in Saskatchewan, while 1,215 cases (nearly 17 percent) involved payers living outside the province. The remaining cases are pending assignment or transitioning between offices.
International Context
The new provincial law follows an international agreement that Canada joined in February 2024, with 56 countries agreeing to streamline the process for registering support orders across different legal systems. This global cooperation aims to reduce barriers for families seeking support across borders.
Advocates emphasize that while the new law is a positive step, more work is needed to address the overall problem of non-payment. They call for continued efforts to support vulnerable parties, particularly children, in receiving the financial support they are entitled to.
