How long does negative information stay on a Canadian credit report?

Typical retention periods at Equifax and TransUnion Canada:

• Missed payments / collections — 6 years from the date of last activity.
• Hard inquiries — 3 years on the report, but only meaningfully affecting your score for about 12 months.
• Consumer proposal — 3 years after completion (Equifax) or from the filing date plus completion terms.
• First bankruptcy — 6 to 7 years after discharge depending on bureau and province.
• Closed accounts in good standing — usually 10 years, which helps your credit history length.

Paying a collection does not delete it, but it does change the status to paid, which most lenders weigh far more favourably. Errors can be disputed directly with each bureau at no cost.