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Repeat Bankruptcies And The Integrity Of The Canadian Bankruptcy Process, Thomas G. W. Telfer

Law Publications

One of the often-cited purposes of bankruptcy law is to permit the rehabilitationof the debtor as a citizen unfetteredby past debts. The bankruptcy regime thus allows an honest but unfortunate debtor toobtain a fresh start through the discharge. However, Canadian bankruptcy law has long taken the position that a repeat bankruptcy will preclude an order of an absolute discharge. The different treatment of repeat bankrupts suggests that there are other policy objectives at play beyond rehabilitation. While the court must consider the interests of the debtor and creditors in a contested discharge hearing an equally important consideration is the protection …