The Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act comes into effect on August 29, 2022. Previously, Alberta had no rules for payment timelines in the construction industry, which meant these timelines were vague if not addressed in a contract. These changes will set a clear timeline of 28 calendar days for general contractors to receive payments, and seven calendar days after payment is received for contractors to pay subcontractors, giving construction industry professionals the confidence they need to operate successfully.
The construction industry is a multi-billion dollar sector of Alberta’s economy that creates thousands of jobs for Albertans. Amendments to the act will help ensure contractors and subcontractors get paid on time.
COAA member Gowling WLG has provided the following information relating to the transitory provision of the new legislation:
- Anyone who is performing work, providing services, or furnishing goods or materials with respect to an improvement in land must comply with the new legislation;
- The new legislation does not apply to Public Works projects, P3’s with the Government of Alberta, Federal Government projects, or operations and maintenance work that does not involve an improvement to the project lands;
- The new legislation applies to municipal, county and regional district projects undertaken in Alberta;
- The new legislation applies equally to owners including home builders, architects and professional engineers who are registered as professionals and providing consulting services to an improvement, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers;
- The new legislation will apply to your contract regardless of the type of contracting approach or model, or payment process that is being used;
- The new legislation applies to suppliers even if they are located outside of Alberta as long their product is being used in an improvement in Alberta;
- The new legislative provisions apply to contracts between an owner and a contractor entered into on or after August 29, 2022;
- The new legislation will apply to subcontracts and supply agreements based upon the date of the contract between the owner and the contractor – NOT the date of that the subcontract or supply agreement is entered into between the subcontractor and the contractor or the supplier or the contractor – so you will need to know the date of the prime contract to know if the new legislation applies to your subcontract or supplier agreement;
- The provisions of the old Builders’ Lien Act will continue to apply if the prime contract was entered into before August 29, 2022 even if a subcontract or supply agreement is entered after August 29, 2022; and
- If the duration of the contract between the owner and the contractor exceeds two years from August 29, 2022, after two years the new legislation will apply to the contract, and the contract terms, including all subcontracts and supply agreements, must be revised to comply with the new legislation.
Click here for more information on Gowling WLG.
Click here for more information on the new provincial legislation.
