N.S. makes it easier to track down debtors
Quicker access to social insurance numbers
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 | 8:24 AM AT
CBC News
The Nova Scotia government is proposing changes to make it easier to find people who owe the province money.
Amendments to the Consumer Reporting Act will ensure the province gets timely access to social insurance numbers to improve the debt-collection process, and make it consistent with federal regulations.
If the bill passes, it would give collectors an important tool in finding the 75,000 Nova Scotians who owe millions in court fines, outstanding student loans and other payments.
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Affairs Minister Ramona Jennex said it can be difficult to track down the person who actually owes money because in many parts of the province, there are a lot of people who share the same name.
"If you went to Cape Breton and asked for John MacDonald, for example, you wouldn't know which one you were talking about because there's so many," she said.
The province is allowed to possess and use personal information for debt collection. Any personal information collected is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
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