A lien is a powerful and convenient tool used to protect trade
and material suppliers in the construction industry. However,
despite the convenience of the lien remedy, it is very time
sensitive and requires comparatively quick action. As such, it is
imperative for contractors in the construction industry to
understand the calculation of time associated with preserving and
perfecting their lien rights. This is ultimately determined by
whether the new Construction Act (the
"CA") applies, or whether the old
Construction Lien Act (the "CLA") has
been grandfathered into the particular project.
Which Timeline Applies
The first step in identifying the governing timeline of a lien
is to determine which act's timeline applies. As the CLA has
been replaced by the CA and construction projects are often many
years in the making, transitional provisions have been included in
the CA.