Saskatchewan: Maintenance Orders Amendment Act 2026 Bolsters Support Collection

• Saskatchewan plans to introduce the Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026, to enhance support collection.
• The new legislation will grant the Maintenance Enforcement Office additional tools, including fees on delinquent accounts.
• Amendments will also revise pension definitions to access variable life payments for overdue support recovery.
• Justice Minister Tim McLeod stated these changes aim to ensure parents meet obligations and families receive owed payments.
• The Maintenance Enforcement Office currently manages over 7,000 active files and has collected more than $33 million this year.

A key component of the forthcoming Saskatchewan Maintenance Orders Amendment Act 2026 involves the introduction of fees on delinquent accounts, a new mechanism intended to encourage timely payments and deter arrears.

The Saskatchewan government has unveiled plans to introduce significant legislative changes aimed at bolstering the collection of overdue child and spousal support payments. These proposed amendments, encapsulated in the Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026, are designed to equip the Maintenance Enforcement Office (MEO) with enhanced capabilities. The overarching goal is to ensure that families receive the financial assistance they are legally entitled to, thereby strengthening the support system for children and former spouses across the province.

Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s justice minister and attorney general, emphasized the importance of these forthcoming measures. He stated that by reinforcing enforcement mechanisms, the government intends to ensure parents fulfill their financial responsibilities and that families obtain the payments crucial for their well-being. McLeod further highlighted that every child deserves the financial support due to them, and these proposed changes would grant the MEO additional authority to collect outstanding support. This legislative initiative underscores a commitment to improving the effectiveness of maintenance order enforcement.

A key component of the forthcoming Saskatchewan Maintenance Orders Amendment Act 2026 involves the introduction of fees on delinquent accounts, a new mechanism intended to encourage timely payments and deter arrears. This direct financial consequence for non-compliance represents a significant addition to the MEO's arsenal for Saskatchewan overdue support collection. The government's intention is to create a stronger incentive for payors to meet their obligations promptly, reducing the burden on recipients who often rely on these funds for essential living expenses.

Furthermore, the planned legislation seeks to amend existing pension-related definitions. These revisions are specifically designed to account for variable life payments, a crucial adjustment that will facilitate access to eligible future payments from certain annuities. This particular change aims to enable the recovery of overdue support payments from these financial instruments, expanding the scope of assets that can be targeted for enforcement. These new provisions will complement the existing enforcement tools already available to the MEO, enhancing its overall capacity for Saskatchewan child support enforcement and Saskatchewan spousal support amendments.

The Maintenance Enforcement Office currently manages a substantial caseload, overseeing more than 7,000 active files related to support orders. This year alone, the MEO has successfully collected over $33 million for children and families, demonstrating the critical role it plays in the province's social and legal framework. The proposed amendments are expected to build upon this foundation, providing the MEO with even greater leverage to address the challenges of overdue support.

These legislative efforts follow previous initiatives aimed at strengthening family support enforcement. Notably, the Saskatchewan government previously introduced Bill No. 30 – the Inter-jurisdictional Support Orders Amendment Act, 2025. That earlier legislation was instrumental in implementing the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, showcasing a consistent provincial commitment to robust support collection, both domestically and internationally. The new Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Amendment Act, 2026, represents the latest step in this ongoing strategy to enhance enforcement capabilities.

Lawyers practicing family law in Saskatchewan should note these proposed amendments, as they will grant the Maintenance Enforcement Office additional tools to collect overdue child and spousal support. This necessitates advising clients on the increased likelihood of enforcement actions and the potential for new fees on delinquent accounts, impacting compliance strategies and recovery efforts.

Source: Original reporting via Saskatchewan government news release