Ontario Legislature Ends Consideration of Bill 69, the Prompt Payment Act

TORONTO, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Fair Payment Reform Ontario (F-PRO) today congratulated members of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills for ending consideration of Bill 69, the Prompt Payment Act, and allowing for the issue to be moved to a government-led review that will permit thorough debate and understanding of the potential impact of legislation.

Earlier today, the committee voted to adjourn further consideration of Bill 69 and move to other committee business. An independent review of the Construction Lien Act was announced on March 28^th by the Ministries of the Attorney General and Infrastructure.  The review will commence this spring.

"We are pleased that the Ontario legislature's consideration of Bill 69, the Prompt Payment Act, has now ended, and that the issue will instead be taken up by a government-led review that can include adequate consultation and deliberation.  We have said from the beginning that Ontario's constructors support the principle of prompt payment, but we had serious concerns about how Bill 69 was drafted," said Chris Gower, Executive Vice President, PCL Construction.

"We are grateful for the support we received from a number of committee members, and in particular would like to highlight the leadership and collaboration of Steven Del Duca, MPP, and Monte McNaughton, MPP, for placing prompt payment on the public agenda in the appropriate manner that will lead to a positive outcome," said Chris Gower, Executive Vice President, PCL Construction.

The Fair Payment Reform Ontario (F-PRO) coalition is comprised of construction companies including Eastern Construction, ACS Infrastructure Canada, Carillion Canada, Dragados Canada, EllisDon, PCL Construction, Aecon and Bird Construction.

SOURCE: Fair Payment Reform Ontario

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Joe Pickerill, [email protected], 647-531-4061