NEW ONTARIO RULES MEANT TO CRACK DOWN ON UNSCRUPULOUS DEBT-SETTLEMENT FIRMS OTTAWA — New rules in Ontario to better protect consumers from unscrupulous debt settlement companies come into force this week, but bankruptcy trustees says those in financial trouble seeking help still need to be...

by Kaitlin Lee  Thinkstock    A lot of Albertans have dug themselves into a financial hole. According to the latest consumer trend report by Equifax — the average debtload in the province is $27,072. That’s 30 per cent higher than the rest of the country.