b'PRESIDENTS MESSAGEPROMPT PAYMENT THE PROGRESS IS REAL!E ighteen months ago, I would have accurately portrayed the terms prompt payment and progress as mutually exclusive in the context of an Ontario solution to prompt payment. Put simply, I have worked on the prompt payment file personally for 13 years and it wasnt until December 12, 2017, when Bill 142 received royal assent, that there was anything tangible to measure progress against. That said, as remarkable as it may sound after so many years beating what seemed like a dead horse, the prompt payment regime that is destined to change our world is fast becoming a reality. So lets recap. Two governments and three ministers later, I can finally tell you with confidence that the new regulations under Bill 142 around how payments are made to ensure those who provide services and/or materials on Ontario construction projects will be paid promptly, and that our payment-related disputes will be resolved quickly, will happen as promised on October 1, 2019. Why am I suddenly so confident after months of skepticism? First, the prompt payment regulations themselves are ostensibly done already. Secondly, the proposed new adjudication system has a pilot. For those of you who missed the notice, Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey announced on July 18 the designation of ADR Chambers to act as Ontarios Authorized Nominating Authority (ANA).So who are ADR Chambers, what is it they are commissioned to do and what makes me so confident that the process will be ready for implementation in a few short weeks on October 1? All good questions.Under the act, Minister Downeys office was required to source an ANA in a fair and open process that was self-funded and independent to pilot the new adjudication process. And by pilot, I mean developing and overseeing training and the qualification matrix for adjudicators, maintaining a searchable register of qualified adjudicators and whatever other functions the AG set out in the March 15 proposal call. By any standard, this is a formidable mandate and the clock is ticking. What you dont know is that the submissions were due April 5 and for a combination of reasons that government, Im certain, could defend, they waited until just under 2 1/2 months before they need to be live with Ontarios new adjudication regime to announce a winner. Lots to do and not much time left to do it.The good news is that ADR Chambers have been in the alternative dispute resolution business across a broad range of sectors and industries in a great many countries for a great many years. Put another way, this isnt their first rodeo and they have 6Quarter 2 2019 BUILDERSDIGEST'