The Ontario Construction Lien Act, 2017 was given Royal Assent on December 12, 2017 as S.O. 2017 C.24. This statue changes the name of the Ontario Construction Lien Act to the Construction Act (which I will refer to as the new Act) and fundamentally changes the law relating to construction projects in Ontario. Before further […]
Continue Reading →The Ontario Construction Act: What Does It Mean, Especially Regarding Paid When Paid Clauses?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
Alberta Court Rejects Assertion That The Mortgagee Was An “Owner” Under The Builder’s Lien Act
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
In Westpoint Capital Corp. v. Solomon Spruce Ridge Inc., 2017 CarswellAlta 580, 2017 ABQB 254, the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench made a number of decisions relating to the priorities between lienholders and mortgagees. The court found that a mortgagee was not an “owner” of the land within the Alberta Builder’s Lien Act. In any […]
Continue Reading →Amendments To The Ontario Construction Lien Act Have Been Given First Reading (Part 1)
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
On May 31, 2017, the Ontario Legislature gave first reading to Bill 142, which will enact the Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017. By this legislation, substantial amendments are proposed to the Ontario Construction Lien Act, including the change of the name of the Act to the Construction Act. The text of Bill 142 may be […]
Continue Reading →A Subcontractor Recovers Against The Owner In Unjust Enrichment
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
A subcontractor who fails to register a construction lien faces an uphill battle in asserting a claim in unjust enrichment against the owner. That is because the owner will rely upon its contract with the contractor for any benefit that the owner has obtained from the subcontractor’s work. The owner will also assert that there […]
Continue Reading →Recommendations To Amend Ontario’s Construction Lien Act
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
On April 30, 2016, a Report was delivered to the Ontario Government proposing amendments to the Ontario Construction Lien Act. This report may, in whole or in part, soon be implemented by the Ontario Legislature. For this reason, those engaged in the construction industry or construction litigation in Ontario must immediately become familiar with the […]
Continue Reading →CRA Entitled To Priority Over Subcontractors To Trust Funds In Owner’s Hands
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
The Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench recently held that the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) has priority over subcontractors and the bonding company in respect of holdback funds held by the owner in trust for the contractor. The decision in Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corp. v. Able Eavestroughing Ltd., once again underlines the impact of federal […]
Continue Reading →Contractor’s Contract With The Buyer Of Land Was A Sufficient Reason To Deny A Construction Lien And Unjust Enrichment Claim To The Contractor
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
In J. Lepera Contracting Inc. v. Royal Timbers Inc. the Ontario Divisional Court recently dealt with a claim in unjust enrichment by a contractor who had done work for the purchaser of land. The purchaser had agreed to buy the land under an agreement of purchase and sale, but later defaulted under that agreement, and […]
Continue Reading →Is The Charge Or Lien Against The Holdback Separate From The Lien Against The Land?
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
Summary In the recent decision in Brook Construction (2007) Inc. v. Blackwood Contractors Ltd, the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal held that the charge against the holdback under s.12(5) of the Newfoundland and Labrador Mechanics’ Lien Act (the NL Act) is the same as, and “parasitic” to, the lien against the land. Accordingly, since […]
Continue Reading →Lien For Work Done Before The Certificate Of Substantial Completion And Payment Of The Major Lien Fund Does Not Attach To The Minor Lien Fund
Posted by: Construction Law Canada
Summary In Chandos Construction Ltd. v. Twin Peaks Construction Ltd., a Master of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench has held that a lien for work done prior to the filing of a certificate of substantial completion and payment of the major lien fund does not attach to the minor lien fund. Background Chandos was […]
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