How is an out-of-province support order registered and enforced in Ontario?

Ontario's Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act sets out a process for registering a support order made in another Canadian province, territory, or a reciprocating jurisdiction so it can be recognized and enforced in Ontario. In broad terms, the person owed support, or the government agency assisting them, applies to have the out-of-province order registered with the Ontario court, providing a copy of the order and the required supporting documents; once registered, the order is treated as though it were made in Ontario for enforcement purposes.

Once registered, enforcement generally proceeds the same way as for a made-in-Ontario support order, including through the Family Responsibility Office, which can use its usual tools such as garnishing income or bank accounts, reporting arrears to a credit bureau, and pursuing licence suspensions for persistent default. This process exists specifically so that a support recipient doesn't need to start an entirely new case in Ontario just because the paying parent has moved. Anyone dealing with an out-of-province order should get advice on the registration process early, since enforcement generally can't begin until it's properly registered here.