b'Federal officials are also watchingcould potentially supersede the at the government level, but I can say Ontario closely, and federal guidelinesfederal legislation. for sure that there is lots of dialogue somewhat mirror those being enactedSaskatchewan expects to have itshappening between industry groups in Ontario, but some have expressedlegislation go into effect no lateracross the provinces.concern regarding consistency andthan July 1, 2020, and Mark Cooper,Back in Manitoba, there are a couple legislative alignment between thePresident of the Saskatchewanof options available to the industry. jurisdictions. We have certainlyConstruction Association, says thatOne is the aforementioned private advocated for as much alignment asthere has been a lot of communicationmembers bill, but the Manitoba is practical between the federal andbetween the provinces as all watchLaw Reform Commission, which provincial levels, says Mary Van Buren,developments federally, and inrecommended amendments to the President of the Canadian ConstructionOntario. There are lots of lessons toBuilders Liens Act, also looked at Association. Many of our membersbe learned. (Here in Saskatchewan),another approach that would be very do business in multiple provinces, shehe says, we took a lot from lessonssimilar to Ontario and Saskatchewan. adds, so anything that reduces redexperienced in Ontariothe firstUltimately, says Darryl Harrison, tape or increases efficiency is easier tojurisdictionand really built offManager, Policy & Research for the do if the legislation is consistent. Theof what they had learned, and likeWinnipeg Construction Association, federal government has been open tothem, were happy to share anythingManitoba would most likely go with what were advocating. One of theirthat weve learned with any of ourone or the other, not both. If there suggestions has been, where therecolleagues around the country. Iwas a private members prompt is provincial legislation in place, thatbelieve there is also communicationpayment bill that passed, he says, that would be focused purely on Many of our members do business inpayment speed, whereas the Builders Liens Act would be separate frommultiple provinces, so anything thatthat, and that would be morereduces red tape or increases efficiency isabout litigation.easier to do if the legislation is consistent.When Manitoba does enact legislation, there will be several gains for the Mary Van Buren, President, industry. First and foremost, says Harrison, people wont be waiting Canadian Construction Association as long to get paid; I think that will provide a lot of peace of mind for business owners, small, medium and large, especially those that have been forced into situations where theyre waiting a long time, and where cash flow has been an issue as a result of payment delays. He adds that it will also decrease the risk of delinquent payments. A major benefit of the prompt payment regime will be that people will be able to recognize much earlier if there is a concern around getting paid at all.In Manitoba, concludes Harrison, The industry knows that were moving in the right direction, and were happy to see that, but its not happening fast enough for a lot of the sectors of the industry. However, there is a benefit associated with the delay because well have the benefit of seeing how it all plays out in the other provinceswhere their successes are, and which areas need improvingand we can then incorporate those lessons into what happens here in Manitoba.Resourceshttps://www.osler.com/en/resources/in-focus/canadian-prompt-payment-and-construction-law-reforms42 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'