Impact of Adding Revenue Canada Databases Under FOAEA—Part 1 Tracing For Locating Persons
Final Report

2004-FCY-10E

1.0   INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This report presents the results of the research implementation phase of a study assessing the impact and effectiveness of the addition of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) databases to federal information sources accessed for tracing payors owing maintenance arrears and in identifying and locating employers to whom attachments (garnishees) might be applied. This report was preceded by a preliminary report examining the Research Design and Pilot Phase results for the study.

This document provides information on the objectives and history of the research, a summary description of the pilot phase, a description and analysis of the final research results and recommendations for change related to the handling or transference of trace data. In addition, this report provides proportional data from the British Columbia Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), Family Search Program (FAMS) and the Family Orders and Agreement Enforcement Assistance Unit of the Department of Justice Canada (FOAEA), which indicate the overall frequency of FOAEA trace requests by FMEP and FAMS. To provide context and background for the reader, some basic information about the recipients, payors and cases reviewed is provided.

Specifically, this report includes the following:

  • An overview of the history, purpose and objectives of the research;
  • A description of the research design, process and methodologies;
  • A description of research issues and limitations;
  • Case characteristics (payor, recipient, file and case data);
  • Information on the duration of and intervals between tracing processes;
  • Arrears data and payment histories;
  • Payor tracing and enforcement histories;
  • Data on trace data quality, completeness and currency;
  • Trace outcomes (payor residential and employer addresses);
  • Number of cases traced directly through the FOAEA Unit, with the extent of payments made;
  • Conclusions relating to tracing effectiveness and potential; and
  • Recommendations for change.

This research was carried out in British Columbia and examines only one province's participation in the federal tracing process.