Real‑time Insights Show Headline Indicators Mask Growing Strain on Many Canadian Households

OTTAWA — Equifax Canada President and CEO Sue Hutchison today appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to share real‑time insights into the financial health of Canadian households, drawing on Equifax’s secure, Canadian‑based data ecosystem.

“While national credit indicators suggest stability, our data shows a widening financial divide that is not visible in headline averages,” said Sue Hutchison, President and CEO of Equifax Canada. “Younger Canadians, lower‑income households and consumers without mortgages are experiencing significantly higher levels of financial strain. Understanding these pressures requires looking beyond aggregates to ground‑truth data.”

Equifax Canada’s real‑time analysis shows that missed payments and affordability challenges are increasingly concentrated among specific segments, particularly in provinces with higher housing and rental costs. At the same time, rising delinquency balances among highly creditworthy mortgage holders signal that sustained financing costs are beginning to erode traditional financial buffers.

“As policymakers examine household debt, timely, granular data is essential to understanding where risks are emerging,” said Hutchison. “Equifax stands ready to support evidence‑based decision‑making by providing objective insights that reflect the realities facing Canadians today.”