Prompt Payment Legislation To Protect Contractors Takes Effect Today

On October 7, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 20 in the B.C. legislature. Bill 20 implements long-anticipated reforms aimed at providing greater payment and cash-flow certainty for stakeholders...

The Government of Canada has announced a two-year extension to an existing ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing.

Many professionals (accountants, engineers, lawyers, dentists and other health professionals) operate through professional corporations believing this structure protects their personal assets from business liabilities. A recent Alberta Court of King's Bench decision serves as a reminder that this assumption can be wrong, and costly.

Since April 1, 2021, residential projects of at least 450 m² (about 5 units or more) in Montréal have been subject to the By-law for a Diverse Metropolis (the BDM).

Discovering that your rental property has been damaged by a tenant can be a frustrating and costly experience. Landlords often wonder what their rights are and how they can legally recover the costs of repairs.

Starting in 2027, all Ontario project owners with contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, and most owners with contracts dating back to July 1, 2018, must start releasing statutory holdback to their contractors on an annual basis. This requirement is the latest in a series of construction payment reforms under Ontario’s Construction Act. It replaces the traditional model of retaining holdback until substantial performance. Owners and contractors who fail to comply with the notice and payment timelines face exposure to interest claims, payment disputes, and adjudication proceedings.

In KingSett Mortgage Corporation v Lumina Eclipse Limited Partnership, 2026 BCSC 1598, the Supreme Court of British Columbia confirmed that a developer’s failure to disclose material facts...

The Court of Appeal for Ontario has resolved a critical uncertainty in construction law regarding how holdback deficiencies should be calculated when owners fail to retain statutory holdbacks. The decision addresses whether contractors who have already been paid can claim additional priority over construction mortgages, and establishes important boundaries to prevent double recovery while balancing the interests of all parties in the construction pyramid.

On October 7, 2025, British Columbia introduced Bill 20 – 2025 Construction Prompt Payment Act. On November 27, 2025, Bill 20 received Royal Assent. Bill 20 however has not yet come into force.

Ontario's housing affordability crisis is intensifying, and one major factor contributing to rising costs is development charges ("DCs"). These fees, essential for financing growth-related infrastructure, are becoming...