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ARTICLE · 22 NOVEMBER 2024

Bill 216 And Amendments To The Ontario Construction Act

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On November 6, 2024, Bill 216, Building Ontario For You Act (Budget Measures) (the "Bill") received Royal Assent, ushering in a series of amendments to Ontario's Construction Act (the "Act").

CanadaReal Estate and Construction
Adam Lewinberg
Adam Lewinberg
Edward Lynde
Edward Lynde
Robert Iaccino
Robert Iaccino
Shazad Omarali (Articling Student)
Shazad Omarali (Articling Student)
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Introduction

On November 6, 2024, Bill 216, Building Ontario For You Act (Budget Measures) (the "Bill") received Royal Assent, ushering in a series of amendments to Ontario's Construction Act (the "Act").1

The amendments align with three key priorities that the Ministry of the Attorney General identified in a recent independent review of the Act, including:

  1. Enhancing access to statutory adjudication to encourage parties to resolve their disputes without relying on the court system.
  2. Mandating the release of holdback on an annual basis and simplifying the holdback regime.
  3. Providing certainty and clarity to the construction industry through several technical updates.

This bulletin highlights some of the key amendments to the Act and the consequences those amendments may have for businesses operating in the construction industry.

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