PPO Third Reading Press Release
Construction Lien Amendment Act Has Passed Unanimously;
Prompt Payment Ontario Commends Support for a Stronger Ontario
Toronto, ON (December 5, 2017) – Today, Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, was passed with an unanimous vote at Queen’s Park, and marks a pivotal moment wherein the rights and securities of Ontario’s workers will now be held to a much higher standard.
Bill 142 was first introduced this past spring and was worked on tirelessly over the remainder of the year, always remaining a priority on the legislative agenda. Having attained royal assent before the house adjourns for the season now promises a new year where the 400,000+ workers of Ontario’s construction sector will begin to see the effects of a prompt payment system that looks out for their livelihood’s. The bill will also bring added adjudication measures that will significantly reduce payment delays, which have been identified as the biggest barrier to investment, improved productivity, and increased employment in the construction industry.
“This legislation could not have been introduced at a better time, as higher interest rates will make delayed payment unbearable. We hope that this groundbreaking piece of legislation will set the stage for change across the country.” said Ron Johnson, Director of PPO. “We would like to thank the government for taking this issue seriously and hope that we will see the immediate proclamation of this important piece of legislation.”
Prompt Payment Ontario would like to thank Minister Naqvi for remaining an ardent supporter of this issue throughout its time in legislature. We would also like to recognize both Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel for the incredible work they have accomplished, they truly paved the way for this bill. Thank you as well to all the MPPs who came together on the issue of Prompt Payment, recognizing that it was an issue for all Ontarians, the overwhelming bipartisan support that Bill 142 has received should be applauded by all.
This is the first legislation of its kind in Canada, and hopefully will serve as a guide for the rest of the country looking to put forth their own legislature that will protect the financial security of Canadians from coast to coast.
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Prompt Payment Ontario (PPO) is a sole-purpose alliance or coalition of contractor associations, unions, suppliers, general contractors, pension trust funds, and anyone else who has an interest is seeing prompt payment legislation enacted in the province of Ontario. Its purpose and goal are just that, to persuade the Ontario government that delinquent payment is a growing problem in the construction industry and that legislation is needed to ensure that money flows as it is intended down through the contractor supply chain.
For further information, please contact:
Ashley Rensler
647-967-9324
Michael Hutchison
519-870-9945