I live in ottawa ontario. An old friend told me that a collection agencies called them about my where about concerning and old credit debt. Its over 12 years old. Can I be forced to pay off that debt of about 4500$ then.

A debt never expires. You are responsible for it until it gets paid. However, there are limits to what a creditor can do to enforce the debt. At 12 years old, there isn't much they can do but dun you.

Your responsbility to pay never goes
Away,but as noted above there is not much they can do but worry you to death with calls, letters etc