OTTAWA — The National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) has issued a statement urging the federal government to move swiftly to pass legislation to ensure prompt payment of federal construction contracts.
The NTCCC statement praised the efforts of Senator Donald Plett, who advanced a private member’s bill on prompt payment in the Senate that was unanimously passed last May.
Plett expressed his frustration on the lack of movement on the issue in a recent media interview, a Jan. 17 statement said. The NTCCC said it has been engaged in ongoing discussions with federal officials on the issue.
The Ontario government passed Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017, last year which introduced a prompt payment system for construction projects in that province.
“We are working with the government of Canada and the Department of Public Services and Procurement Canada to pass legislation that addresses concerns of all stakeholders as soon as possible,” says John Galt, council chairman, in the statement.
“We have told the government that passing binding legislation in the near future is crucial because nothing else will work to solve the problem.”
The statement said the bill is “vital and trade contractors, suppliers, their employees and families have been waiting a long time for government action.”
“We are very close to having this solution and look forward to legislation being debated in the House of Commons so we see improvements before the end of this government’s mandate,” said Galt.
“Momentum has built on this issue and with legislation passed in Ontario and coming forward soon in other jurisdictions we will continue to encourage the federal government to move forward quickly.”
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