Statute of Limitations on Debt by Province in Canada (2026)

Every debt in Canada has an expiration date for legal enforcement. Once the statute of limitations passes, a creditor or collection agency can no longer sue you to collect — but they can still call, send letters, and report the debt to credit bureaus. The limitation period varies dramatically by province: just 2 years in Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, but 6 years in most Atlantic provinces and the territories. Understanding your province’s rules is critical before making any payment on an old debt, because even a small payment can restart the clock from zero.

Limitation Periods by Province

When Does the Clock Start?

What Resets the Clock

This is the most important section on this page. Collection agencies know that getting you to make any payment — even $1 — restarts the limitation period from day one. That’s why they’ll offer to accept a tiny “good faith” payment or ask you to confirm the debt in writing. Both actions can reset the clock in most provinces, giving the collector another 2–6 years to sue you. Never make a payment or sign anything without first confirming whether the limitation has expired. If you’re unsure, consult a free credit counsellor before responding.

What Does NOT Reset the Clock

After the Limitation Expires

An expired limitation doesn’t erase the debt — it only removes the creditor’s ability to enforce it through the courts. Collectors can still phone you, mail you, and report the debt to your credit report. However, the credit reporting period (6–7 years from the date of first delinquency) runs independently and cannot be reset by the collector. So an old debt may fall off your credit report around the same time the limitation expires, or even before it in provinces with 6-year limitation periods.

What Collectors Can Still Do

What Collectors Cannot Do

Limitation Period vs Credit Reporting Period

Special Cases

Federal Debts (CRA)

CRA debts are the major exception to provincial limitation periods. The federal government has its own 6-year limitation for income tax, GST/HST, and student loans, plus enhanced collection powers that don’t require court orders. Even after 6 years, CRA can still intercept tax refunds and has been known to pursue old debts aggressively. If you owe CRA money, a payment arrangement is almost always better than waiting out the clock, because their enforcement tools make the limitation period less meaningful than it is for private creditors.

Important: CRA can garnish wages, seize bank accounts, and intercept tax refunds without a court order — the limitation period is less protective for tax debts.

Student Loans

Secured Debts

What to Do If You’re Contacted About Old Debt

If a collector calls about a debt you don’t recognize or haven’t paid in years, the first rule is: say nothing that acknowledges the debt. Request written verification, check the date of last activity against your province’s limitation period, and do not make any payment until you’ve confirmed your legal position. If the limitation has expired, you can send a written notice that the debt is statute-barred and request they stop contacting you. Keep copies of everything.

Step-by-Step

Sample Response for Statute-Barred Debt

Province-Specific Notes

Ontario (2 years)

British Columbia (2 years)

Quebec (3 years)

The Bottom Line

Knowing your province’s limitation period protects you from paying debts you’re no longer legally obligated to repay through the courts. Never make a payment or written acknowledgment on old debt without first checking the clock. If you’re being contacted about statute-barred debt, assert your rights in writing. And if you’re unsure about any of this, a free credit counselling session can clarify your options before you accidentally restart a limitation you didn’t know existed.

Related Resources

• How to Deal with Collections
• How to Read Your Credit Report
• Consumer Proposal vs Bankruptcy
• Credit Counselling Canada
• How to Get Out of Debt