ADVANTAGE STEEL SUMMER 2019 | 11 “Today, our government is taking the nextstepinensuringthatsubcontractors who work on federal construction contracts get paid on time.” -StevenMacKinnon,parliamentarysecretarytotheministerofPublicServicesandProcurement implementation of federal prompt payment legislation and adjudicative measures. On March 15, 2019, the Nova Scotia government introduced prompt payment legislation. This legislation is intended to provide the authority for establishing an adjudication process to resolve disputes faster when timelines are not met. Interest rates will be established for payments not made on time. Soon after, early in April 2019, Nova Scotia’s Bill 119, the Builders’ Lien Act (Amended) received royal assent and was enacted. In Saskatchewan, the provincial government tabled amendments regarding prompt payments on November 20, 2018. “Under the proposed legislation, owners and developers will be required to provide payment within 28 days of receiving a proper invoice for construction services,” noted a government press release. “Contractors will be required to provide payment to subcontractors within seven days of receiving a payment from the owner or developer.” Since then, the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan passed the third reading of The Builders’ Lien (Prompt Payment) Amendment Act. As of May 2, 2019, Saskatchewan is the third province to enact prompt payment legislation, alongside Ontario and Nova Scotia. Elsewhere in Canada, efforts are ongoing to bring about prompt payment reforms. In B.C., the British Columbia Law Institute is reviewing the province’s Builders’ Lien Act in an effort to reform it. In New Brunswick, the province is considering adding a prompt payment and expedited dispute resolution scheme to the province’s main construction law statute, the Mechanics’ Lien Act. Ed Whalen, CISC’s president and CEO, says that prompt payment legislation with adjudication is one of the most important and needed measures for the Canadian construction industry. “Ontario was the first to achieve this goal and we are seeing the dominos beginning to fall across the country.” AS