When payments are not made on court orders or agreements registered with the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP), collection action will be taken. MEP has a variety of enforcement tools available.

Wage Support Deduction Notice (WSDN): MEP can require that employers make scheduled deductions from a debtor’s wages in order to fulfill support responsibilities. A support deduction notice requires an employer to send to MEP a maximum of 40 per cent of the debtor's gross wages. If payments from a WSDN cannot reach MEP on or before the court-ordered due date, the debtor should contact MEP to make a payment arrangement to build a credit so that the debtor is not charged late penalties and interest.

Non-Wage Support Deduction Notice (NWSDN): MEP can intercept monies payable to the debtor from bank accounts or other sources (e.g. mutual funds, rent or contract fees). NWSDNs are placed to satisfy outstanding arrears on maintenance accounts. They may be used to collect funds until the arrears are paid or satisfactory arrangements are made with MEP for alternative forms of payment.

Federal Support Deduction Notice (FSDN): These support deduction notices are issued in co-operation with the federal government and can attach funds that may be payable to the debtor from federal sources, such as income tax refunds, G.S.T. rebates, Canada Pension Plan income and Employment Insurance payments.

Writ at the Personal Property Registry: MEP can file a support order with the Personal Property Registry as a writ against the name of the debtor and/or any personal property that the debtor may own, such as recreational or other vehicles. Once a writ is filed, the debtor may be prevented from transferring clear title to any property he or she may wish to sell. The filing of a writ also allows MEP to seize assets, including vehicles and certain kinds of retirement savings plans, shares and bonds.

Motor Vehicle Restrictions: MEP may restrict the debtor’s access to motor vehicle services within the province of Alberta. These include vehicle registrations, licence plates, driver’s licences, abstracts and the issuance of identification.

Driver's Licence Cancellations: MEP may cancel current driver's licences for accounts more than sixty days in arrears. Advance warning to the debtor must first be provided.

Federal Licence Denial: Through co-operation with the federal government, MEP may restrict the issuing of federal licences, passports and permits. MEP can also cause an existing licence or passport to be revoked.

Financial Examination Hearing: If a debtor's Statement of Finances does not provide enough financial information, MEP can schedule a financial examination hearing. Through the examination process, MEP will attempt to come to an agreement with the debtor regarding an appropriate payment arrangement. To help the debtor in complying with the agreement made, MEP staff might refer him or her to resources that could be of assistance.

Default Hearing: MEP can summon defaulting debtors to court to explain why they have not complied with their support obligations. The court can send a debtor to jail for continued non-payment of maintenance. At our docket days in Edmonton and Calgary, MEP representatives meet with the debtor at the courthouse before the default hearing begins to try to reach an agreement and thereby avoid the need for a full hearing.

Recreational Hunting and Fishing Licence Restrictions: MEP may restrict the issuance of provincial recreational hunting and fishing licenses to debtors with maintenance arrears.

Registration Against Real Property: In some circumstances, MEP may register the support order against a property at the Land Titles Registry and/or force sale of real estate. The registration can prevent the owner from re-mortgaging or selling the property without first making payment arrangements with MEP.

Credit Bureau Reporting: MEP can report a failure to pay child or spousal support to the Credit Bureau to be registered as a bad debt.

Piercing the Corporate Veil: Some debtors try to shelter or hide assets or income from MEP by keeping them in the name of a company. In these cases, MEP can apply for a court order allowing the company’s property or income to be applied towards the debtor’s maintenance debt.

Seizure: MEP may intercept a debtor’s assets (e.g. vehicles). Seized assets may be sold and applied towards a debtor’s maintenance arrears.

Seizure of Third-Party Assets: Some debtors may try to shelter or hide assets or income in someone else’s name to avoid collection by MEP. In these cases, MEP can apply for a court order allowing it to seize the sheltered assets or income.