Trade Contractors Call on Ontario to Ensure Prompt Payment
Construction Lien Act must be amended to protect small businesses
During the normal course of business, a trade contractor carries substantial up-front costs to complete a particular job. This includes equipment, materials, and employee salaries. These costs are substantial, even if they are expected.
To a certain extent, all businesses are forced to carry some costs while they wait for payment. In most industries, payment is received when goods or services are delivered or along some other predictable schedule. In the construction industry, however, it is a tolerated practice that there are no strict timelines for payment of services delivered.
"Even at the best of times, businesses rely on being promptly paid for services delivered," said
NTCCC believes that improvements in this regard can be achieved by amending the Construction Lien Act, R.S.O. 1990, as suggested by the Council of Ontario Construction Associations. These include clarifying what constitutes an "improvement" under the act, continuing a contractor's lien rights for a longer period of time, and protecting liens in the event of a discharge of action. These reforms are also supported by associations representing high-rise builders.
"By so-ensuring prompt payment, Ontario will be at the vanguard of a national effort to provide financial stability for trade contractors" said Blair. "Such stability will protect jobs across the province, reduce the costs associated with construction, and help thousands of small businesses remain successful."
The National Trade Contractors Coalition of
- Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada - Canadian Electrical Contractors Association - Canadian Masonry Contractors Association - Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association - Canadian Roofing Contractors Association - Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada - Ontario Sheet Metal Contractors Association - Thermal Insulation Association of Canada - Interior Systems Contractors Association
For more information please contact:
For further information: Kate Poirier, Phone: (613) 889-3846, Email: [email protected], or visit www.ntccc.ca
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