Advocacy
PROMPT PAYMENT
AWCA partnered with 9 other trade organizations to form the ATCC, or Alberta Trade Contractors Association. The first major issue tackled by this group is the enactment of Prompt Payment Legislation. in 2014, a survey of members of the ATCC to determine the significance in Alberta of delayed payment. Delayed payments are a harmful practice in Canada’s construction industry. They are a significant problem for small businesses, their employees and families, and taxpayers. This issue has led to layoffs, bankruptcies, higher construction costs and fewer competitive bids in the construction sector, which has driven up prices for consumers, governments, and taxpayers.
The ATCC is calling on all provincial government parties to commit to supporting Prompt Payment Legislation. This is NO cost to the government. It would be a positive stimulus to the construction industry and would have the positive, long-term effect of inviting more competitive bids and more affordable projects overall. Other countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the United States (including 49 of 50 states) have eliminated delay issues by implementing prompt payment legislation. Canada has not!??
AWCA strongly supports the need to eliminate payment delays for completed work and is working with the ATCC to ask the Alberta Government to initiate protocols to ensure contractors get paid for the work the have successfully completed.
March 1 2022 Order in Council click on: Promp Payment Order in Council 2022_051
Bill 37 click on: https://www.alberta.ca/introducing-prompt-payment-for-construction-industry.aspx
Check out the report below, aka The Reynolds Report Striking the Balance: Expert Review of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/cla_report/