Ontario vs BC vs Alberta Collection Laws
Complete provincial comparison for contractors and small businesses
Ontario
Contact Hours
Monday-Saturday: 7 AM - 9 PM
Sunday/Holidays: 1 PM - 5 PM
Small Claims Limit
$35,000
Governing Law
Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act
Key Requirements
- Must identify yourself
- Cease contact if requested in writing
- Cannot contact employer
- Must provide opt-out option for SMS
British Columbia
Contact Hours
Monday-Saturday: 7 AM - 9 PM
No Sunday/Holiday contact
Small Claims Limit
$35,000
Governing Law
Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act
Key Requirements
- Cannot call on Sundays
- Maximum 3 calls per week
- Must stop if payment plan agreed
- Specific post-dated cheque rules
Alberta
Contact Hours
Monday-Saturday: 9 AM - 9 PM
No Sunday/Holiday contact
Small Claims Limit
$50,000 (highest in Canada)
Governing Law
Fair Trading Act
Key Requirements
- Stricter contact restrictions
- Cannot contact Sundays/holidays
- Must provide written notice first
- Cannot threaten legal action unless intended
GST/HST Collection Across Provinces
Ontario
HST: 13% (Federal + Provincial combined)
British Columbia
GST: 5% + PST: 7% = 12% total (separate taxes)
Alberta
GST: 5% only (no provincial sales tax)
What This Means for Your Business
If You Operate in Multiple Provinces
You must follow the MOST RESTRICTIVE rules to stay compliant everywhere:
- Use Alberta's contact hours (9 AM - 9 PM) for all provinces
- Never contact on Sundays or holidays
- Always include SMS opt-out options
- Limit calls to 3 per week maximum
How RemitRight Handles This Automatically
Stay Compliant Across All Provinces
Let RemitRight handle provincial compliance automatically