A recurring issue for construction and builders liens is whether the liens have priority over mortgage advances.  One question which does not often arise is:  what sort of payments by a mortgagee do constitute “advances” under a mortgage?  In other words, what sort of payments by a mortgagee can even qualify for priority over lien [...]

When a contractor pays money into court to discharge a lien of a sub-contractor, can that money only be used to discharge that lien holder’s claim?  Or is it available to pay the liens of all eventual lien holders?  In Canadian Western Bank v. 702348 Alberta Ltd., the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench recently decided [...]

Construction Law  -  Construction liens  -  Marshalling The Construction Lien Act seems to be a world unto itself, unaffected by the general principles of law.  But the recent decision of the Alberta Queen’s Bench in Gerrow v. Dorais reminds us that a construction lien is one form of secured interest.  The lien is therefore subject [...]