b'LEGAL CORNERemployer can notify those people to stay home and self-isolate for two weeks. Obviously,thoseinvolvedintheroofingindustryand construction industry at large agree that the various measures implemented across the country are a welcome cost if it allows them to maintain operations. However, all of these measures resultinhighercosts,tightermarginsand,potentially,a reduced labour force. This not only affects productivity but brings about potential legal claims due to missed deadlines and the failure to complete other contractual obligations. So leaving the increased business-related costs aside, the first place any stakeholder in the roofing business should look to determine their legal liability is of course the contract. 2)Contractual liability from COVIDForpartiessubjecttoastandardCanadianConstruction DocumentsCommittee(CCDC)StipulatedPriceContract and corresponding Canadian Construction Association (CCA) Stipulated Price Subcontract, it is likely that that COVID-19 and the associated governmental proclamations and measures taken qualify as force majeure events pursuant to GC 6.5.3(4) of the CCDC-2 contract. A force majeure clause is interpreted based on a plain and narrow reading of their language and meaning, and, in the CCDC and CCA contracts, the clause should be interpreted to mean that a contractor is entitled toanextensionoftimetoperformorcompleteworks,as recommended by the engineer or architect. However, a contractor may not be entitled to claim payment for any additional or increased costs incurred because of such delay, unless they are in Quebec or Ontario. Outside those two provinces, the arrangement, as provided for under GC 6.5.3, corresponds to what are generally referred to as excusable but not compensable delays. In Quebec, and to a lesser extent, Ontario, where certain construction projects were halted for a longer period of time pursuant to a stop work order, delayso certains projets de construction ont t interrompus pour resulting from a suspension of activity potentially fall underune plus longue priode en raison dun arrt de travail, les the purview of GC 6.5.2, thus making the contracts them bothretards rsultant dune suspension des activits peuvent tre excusable and compensable. du ressort de la CG 6.5.2, ainsi, les contrats sontla fois Asarule,forcemajeureexclusionsareavailableandexcusables et indemnisables.enforceable in Canada. So just because you may not be usingEn rgle gnrale, les exclusions pour force majeure sont CCDCdocuments,youcanstilllimityourliabilityfromdisponiblesetapplicablesauCanada.Donc,simplement circumstances outside of your control, like COVID-19, fromparce que vous nutilisez peut-tre pas les documents du doing significant damage to your business. The intention of theCCDC, vous pouvez quand mme limiter votre responsabi-clause and the circumstances covered should be clearly statedlit contre les circonstances qui chappentvotre contrle, and enumerated, so including language that covers pandemicscommelaCOVID-19,etvousempcherdecauserdes and related response measures is advisable.dommages importantsvotre entreprise. Lintention de la Usually,roofingcontractorswillattempttoexpandtheclauseetlescirconstancescouvertesdoiventtreclaire-ambitofforcemajeureclauses,whileownerswillseektoment nonces et numres, donc il estconseiller din-limit the clause to extraordinary circumstances, outside theclureunlibellquicouvrelespandmiesetlesmesures control or contemplation of the parties. Regardless, the partydintervention connexes. invoking force majeure must also show that it was impossibleHabituellement, les entrepreneurs en couverture essaient toperformitsobligationsunderthecontract.Giventhedlargir la porte des clauses de force majeure, tandis que impact and corresponding restrictions imposed by COVID- les propritaires chercherontlimiter la clausedes circons-19, a clear argument could be made by any party affected bytancesextraordinairesquichappentaucontrleoula them. Whether this is indeed the case will be dependent onrflexion des parties. Quoi quil en soit, la partie qui invoque la various factors, including the exact wording of the force majeureforce majeure doit galement dmontrer quil tait impossible provision, assuming one has been included within the contract.de sacquitter de ses obligations en vertu du contrat. Compte 32 ROOFING CANADA FALL/WINTER 2020'