May 24, 2001 — Le Protecteur du citoyen

Support-payment collection system: the Québec Ombudsman considers that corrective action is still needed

Quebec City, May 24, 2001 – The Québec Ombudsman, Ms Pauline Champoux-Lesage, has released today the third Québec Ombudsman Report on support-payment collection entitled: Universal Support-Payment Collection – Five Year Update.

Implemented in December 1995, the support-payment collection system experienced a most difficult beginning. Underestimation of support cases volume by 45% and personnel shortage producing preposterous delays in support payments were some of the problems the system had to cope with. Consequently, in 1998, citizen dissatisfaction grew to a peak.

From that point on, the Ministère du Revenu set up a work around plan to take corrective action. Considering marked improvements, the Québec Ombudsman observes that difficulties are still present especially where computer programming and processing the more complex cases are involved.

Granting that the system makes the payment of support easier and improves the condition of creditors when carried out by source deduction or payment order, it isn't so when the Ministère has to bring the support cases to court. Steps taken to collect support then often stagnate and since creditors are not entitled to take matters in their own hands, they have no other choice but to wait. The Québec Ombudsman therefore recalls that one of the objectives of The Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support is to allow all parents and children concerned to receive the support to which they are entitled without substantial delay.

In order that all objectives of the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support are met, the Québec Ombudsman recommends the following:

The Direction principale de la perception des pensions alimentaires should change the computer programming to insure that current support payments are given priority over reimbursement of advances.
The Direction principale de la perception des pensions alimentaires should review computer programming to insure information given to citizens is correct and easy to understand.
The Ministère du Revenu should give priority to the enforcement of the writ of attachment allowing the seizure of Employment Insurance seizable benefits.
The tax audit unit and the Centre de perception fiscale should adopt a policy making support cases transferable for investigation.
The tax audit unit should report the investigation progress and findings periodically to the Centre de perception fiscale .

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