Ontario is proposing new rules to prevent late payments on construction projects. The following deadlines would come into effect as soon as an invoice is submitted to the owner of the project.
New Legislation Would Address Payment Delay and Improve Dispute Resolution Process
COCA has been lobbying for Construction Lien Act reform for more than 20 years and for prompt payment legislation since 2011. A giant step forward was made when the government engaged Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel to conduct a review of the Construction Lien Act and to consider the chronic issues of delayed payment that are endemic in the construction industry.
The Reynolds-Vogel Report was made public on June 26, 2016. Their report presented 100 recommendations to modernize the Construction Lien Act, introduce a quick "real time" dispute resolution system for project disputes and introduce a prompt payment regime. Legislative Counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General has been busy ever since, translating those recommendations into a Bill, receiving practical advice and guidance from Reynolds, Vogel and the panel of industry experts they used as part of their review.
At COCA’s ‘Welcome to Construction Season’ Reception at Queen’s Park on May 15th, 2017, Attorney General Yasir Naqvi gave a very strong indication that a Bill pursuant to the Reynolds-Vogel Report would be introduced in the Ontario legislature before the adjournment of the spring session, currently planned for June 1st. He also said very enthusiastically that he would make his best effort to get the Bill through the legislative process and passed into law before the end of the fall 2017 session.
On June 1st 2017, Attorney General Yasir Naqvi announced that the Ontario government was introducing new reforms to Ontario’s construction laws.
A Summary of Bill 142 – An Act to Amend the Construction Lien Act has been prepared by Ted Dryer, a construction lawyer with Madorin, Snyder LLP and the chair of COCA’s Construction Lien Act Task Force. Ted has been a guest speaker at the CFBA’s 2016 and 2017 Annual Conferences, and has worked tirelessly to amend the Construction Lien Act in Ontario through COCA.
The Canadian Farm Builders Association is a member of COCA and supports the work they do. COCA, as the voice of their membership at Queen's Park, hosted a ‘Welcome to Construction Season’ Reception held May 15th 2017 at Queens Park. The CFBA assisted in sponsoring this event that was attended by the Attorney General Yasir Naqvi and the honourable Minister of Labour, Kevin Flynne, amongst others. Photos of this event portraying the CFBA’s Gary van Bolderen (in his capacity as COCA Chair) along with COCA staff and political leaders are available on the CFBA website. Select ‘Gallery’ and ‘COCA.
CFBA Awards 2016 on page 78. Will Teron of Tacoma Engineers speaks to Better Farming on page 6 - see ‘Code Updates on the Horizon – Changes to the National Farm Building Code are long overdue in the minds of engineers in the industry’.
The Changing Workplaces Review Final Report and Summary Release. Keeping workers safe on construction sites. Protecting new and young workers on the job. New tool measures workplace health and safety.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal met with Indigenous partners, local municipalities, livestock organizations and industry in Timmins to discuss the Northern Livestock Pilot project and kick off consultations with stakeholders and communities on supporting viable agriculture in the North.
Suspended access equipment web page provides latest information on recent regulation changes. Ontario releases Construction Health and Safety Action Plan.
New wearable technologies for dairy cows monitor individual animal activity to improve farm management and performance.
The federal Competition Bureau says it has given its approval, with conditions, to the takeover of Lafarge S.A. by Holcim Ltd. in a deal that will merge the world’s two largest cement companies.
OTTAWA—The federal Competition Bureau says it has given its approval, with conditions, to the takeover of Lafarge S.A. by Holcim Ltd. in a deal that will merge the world’s two largest cement companies.
Attorney General Confirms Introduction of Construction Lien Act Reform Bill at COCA Reception. Canada Prompt Payment Act Passes Third Reading Unanimously. MoL Launches Construction H&S Action Plan. WSIB Announces Health and Safety Index Tool. WSIB Launches Consultation on Chronic Mental Stress. Skills Ontario's Annual Skilled Trades Competition.
WSIB Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in establishing health and safety programs in businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Win $2000. - $5000.!
All CFBA Members invited - complimentary attendance
Phenomenal talent and skill was on display at the 28th annual Skills Ontario Competition held at the Toronto Congress Centre, May 1-3, 2017
A circular economy is designed to feed back into itself: A product of long-lasting quality is placed into the market; the byproducts from its manufacturing are re-purposed; and the retired product is reused as much as it possibly can.
Canadian employers have been exposed for widespread ignorance of new and long-standing occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations in a recent survey.
It seems as though we're going to have e-gloves made from smart fabrics. Every once in a while, a proposal comes along that leads one to wonder: Why? What’s the need?