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Printer friendlyBrian Pitkin’s departure as Ontario Registrar of Collection Agencies
In what can only be described as a sudden departure, Brian Pitkin is no longer the Ontario Registrar of Collection Agencies. After a 35-year career holding numerous senior positions in the Ontario Government he retired on December 16, 2011, with no public announcement whatsoever in connection with his retirement.
Anyone calling Brian Pitkin’s direct line at work on December 21st heard the following voicemail greeting:
On December 21st persons calling the Ontario Debt Collection Regulation Unit, which reports to the Ontario Registrar of Collection Agencies, were advised that Gary Demers is the Acting Registrar of Collection Agencies and that Brian Pitkin retired on December 16, 2011.
It would be fair to describe Brian Pitkin’s retirement as a surprise. His retirement was news to senior executives in the collection industry, some of whom served with Brian Pitkin as a fellow board member with the Ontario Society of Collection Agencies (OSCA). In addition, on December 21st Brian Pitkin’s LinkedIn account listed his occupation as “Registrar at MCS”.
It would appear that the Ontario Government made no public announcement whatsoever in connection with Brian Pitkin’s retirement despite the fact that he held numerous senior positions in the Ontario civil service over a period of more than 35 years.
Brian Pitkin’s performance as the Ontario Registrar of Collection Agencies garnered media attention beginning in November of 2010 in connection with his response to collection agencies hiring lawyers to send out draft statement of claims to Ontario residents.
In March of 2011 Mr. Pitkin was interviewed on CBC's Marketplace about his role in stopping Global Credit & Collection Inc. from hiring collection lawyer Deanna Natale to send out demand letters containing an imitation of a court document to Ontario residents.
Ms. Natale is facing the prospect of a professional misconduct hearing before The Law Society of Upper Canada in connection with her law firm’s use of draft statements of claim on behalf of Global—one of the ten largest collection agencies in Canada—with whom she shared office space.
On December 15, 2011, a three-member Hearing Panel at The Law Society of Upper Canada in Toronto heard closing arguments on a stay motion brought by Ms. Natale in which she alleges abuse of process on the part of The Law Society. At the end of proceedings on December 15th, the Panel Chair announced the Panel would reserve its decision which will likely be made public in January.
Judy Sgro, MP
York West (Lib.)
Deanna Natale is the daughter of Judy Sgro, the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in the Paul Martin Government, and the sitting Member of Parliament for York West, a riding which is located in the Jane and Finch area in Toronto.
Consumers will be able to learn more about Brian Pitkin, collection lawyer Deanna Natale, Global Credit & Collection Inc., and the collection industry’s use of draft statements of claim in a new book, tentatively titled Draft Statement of Claim-Gate: The Scandal That Rocked The Canadian Collection Industry, which is expected to be on sale early in 2012.
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