Released on October 31, 1996
Justice Minister John Nilson today announced that effective Nov. 1,1996, the Maintenance Enforcement Program will be able to have driver's
licenses suspended or withheld to assist in collecting support payments
for Saskatchewan families.
Amendments to The Maintenance Enforcement Act enable the Maintenance
Enforcement Program to have a person's driver's license suspended if
that person is at least three months in arrears in making child support
payments and is unwilling to make arrangements to pay the amount owing.
"This is a last-resort measure to address a problem with people who
deliberately organize their financial affairs to avoid paying support,"
Nilson said. "This government is committed to providing better
protection for children. Encouraging non-custodial parents to make
maintenance payments directly benefits children."
The Maintenance Enforcement Program of Saskatchewan Justice has reduced
the default rate on maintenance payments from an estimated 85 per cent
in 1985 to 25 per cent in 1996. The program has consistently
identified and adopted a variety of methods of collecting support
payments, including wage garnishment, seizure of property and
interception of government payments. Saskatchewan joins Alberta,
Manitoba, Nova Scotia and the Yukon in implementing legislation to
provide for the suspension of defaulters' driver's licenses.
"Manitoba and Alberta are both reporting that license suspension has
been tremendously successful in collecting child support arrears from
self-employed people," Nilson said.
"The success of our enforcement program shows that a majority of
parents who have the financial capacity to pay are paying child support
as ordered or agreed. However, for that group of people that have the
means to pay and refuse to do so, license suspension gives the
Maintenance Enforcement Office another avenue to pursue."
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For further information, contact:
Lisa Ann Wood
Justice
Regina
Phone: 787-7872