SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Starting this month there will be tougher consequences for people behind on child and spousal support payments in the NWT.

Because of amendments made to the Maintenance Enforcement Program, the territory now has repercussions up to date with other jurisdictions in Canada.

"It sort of levels the playing field. We can be more effective," said Karan Shaner, assistant deputy minister for the GNWT Department of Justice.

The new enforcement powers came into effect on July 1 after the department researched what was effective in other jurisdictions.

A person's driver's licence can now be suspended if they reach a certain amount of arrears or have been in debt for a certain period of time.

It's "the single most helpful tool," said Shaner, of what was working to get people to pay support in other jurisdictions.

Shaner said if, for instance, someone makes their living as a truck driver, their licence can be suspended for use outside of work time.

"You don't want to take away their sole source of income, because that wouldn't do anyone any good," she said.

Other changes include the ability to place advertisements using various media to shame people into paying their support payments. In Alberta there is a website where individuals owing support have their picture published.

Shaner called it a "last resort sort of thing." She said the department currently doesn't have a website in place, but it's possible one could be used in the future.

The government also now has the ability to report those owing spousal or child support payments to credit agencies.

"Child support or spousal support is a debt like any other," said Shaner.

She said most individuals owing support payments are not overdue.

"We have about 900 active files (in the NWT) and the vast majority are on top of the payments."