Government of Canada’s Interest Cap Risks Criminal Surge 


New research paper from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Lenders Association 

TORONTO, February 5, 2024 – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the voice of police leadership in Ontario, and the Canadian Lenders Association (CLA) are raising concerns regarding legislation introduced by the federal government which could lead to a  dangerous rise in criminal activity.  

A new study by the OACP and the CLA indicates the government’s recent decision to decrease  the maximum allowable rate of interest may lead to a rise in illicit financial activities,  endangering Canadians who are already at risk of not making ends meet.  

“The legislation has the potential to create a vacuum for criminals to fill,” said Barry Horrobin, Co-Chair of the OACP’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee. “Under the  legislation, illegal predatory lenders could take advantage of Canadians by operating online  from outside the bounds of Canadian jurisdiction. By forcing legal, responsible lenders out of the  marketplace, we worry Canadians will be targeted by this type of criminal activity.” 

The comprehensive study further highlights: 

  • The government’s proposed interest rate reduction from 47% to 35% APR will restrict access to essential credit for approximately 4.7 million Canadians.
  • These Canadians will be forced to payday or illegal lending to meet their credit needs, as was the case in three other markets that imposed rate caps.
  • A range of consequences which will limit the ability of non-prime borrowers to meet essential financial requirements.
  • Case studies, including Quebec, California, and the UK demonstrate the various unintended, negative consequences of interest rate caps, underscoring the potentially disastrous repercussions this policy will have for the broader financial ecosystem, including illegal activity and organized crime. 

“The facts say this is a bad policy that is going to leave millions of Canadians without access to  loans during an affordability crisis.” said Gary Schwartz, president and CEO of the Canadian Lenders Association. “The report’s finding that this change might contribute to an upsurge in  criminal activities and disproportionately impact already at-risk Canadians is yet another clear  demonstration the government has failed to think this through.”  

Ultimately, the paper’s findings show a comprehensive review of the government’s new interest rate law is needed to prevent potentially adverse outcomes for millions of Canadians. It also highlights the critical need for a balanced approach that protects Canadians’ access to credit  while safeguarding the integrity of the financial system.

KEY FACTS AND FINDINGS:  

  • Overall, this paper examines the impact of the proposed reduction in the maximum  allowable interest rate from 47% to 35% APR for non-prime borrowers in Canada.  
  • Many Canadians, including newcomers, and individuals with limited lending history, will  no longer qualify for loans at 35% APR.  
  • A significant number of regulated lenders will need to exit the market due to their inability to serve the higher-risk non-prime segment following the rate decrease, potentially  leading to an increase in criminal activities, including illegal lending and loan sharking. 
  • Canadians should not be relegated solely to the realm of predatory payday lenders or  noncompliant/illegal lenders when seeking financial assistance. Instead, they should  have the opportunity to establish and bolster their credit histories over time with the  assistance of responsible and regulated lenders. 
  • International case studies from Quebec California and the UK reveal the outcomes of  lowering interest rates are diverse and complex. Significantly, these examples show a  constriction in legal lending markets, accompanied by a rise in illegal, high-interest loan  products. This comparative analysis underscores the need for careful consideration of  the broader financial ecosystem when implementing such policies. 
  • In 2019, the California Legislature passed the Fair Access to Credit Act, which capped  interest rates at 36%, for personal loans between $2,500 and $10,000, but failed to  address payday lenders who were able to still charge triple-digit interest on loans. The  study reveals this change led to the collapse of the state-regulated installment loan  market, pushing borrowers to payday loans and unlicensed markets with interest rates  as high as 950%. 
  • An analysis of the lending market in Quebec following the province’s decision to set their  own licensing limits on interest rates, outlines how strict interest rate caps lead to de  facto online market for high-interest microloans, with many providers based  internationally, circumventing provincial regulations and offering rates well above the  legal limit. 

ASSOCIATED LINKS 

About the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police 

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is the voice of Ontario Police Leaders. In  1951, the OACP was created to be the voice of Ontario’s police leaders. The association  provides a channel for police leaders to share ideas and cooperatively create solutions to meet  the challenges facing police leadership in Ontario. Our association is not-for-profit and we are based in Toronto.

About the Canadian Lenders Association 

The Canadian Lenders Association (CLA) supports the growth of bank and non-bank  companies that are in the business of lending. We also support lending adjacent sectors  including BaaS, Core Banking, Open Banking, DE&I and Sustainable Finance Frameworks. We  currently represent and advocate for over 300 companies across Canada that participate in  SMB, consumer, home, equipment, automotive and mortgage financing. The CLA does not represent the Payday lending sector. 

OACP Media Enquiries: 

José Luís (Joe) Couto jcouto@oacp.ca
416-919-9798

CLA Media Enquiries: Daniele Medlej 

dmedlej@navltd.com