The Province has rolled out new Prompt Payment legislation for the construction industry, seeking to set out a 28-day timeline for payment effective from the date an official invoice has been received.
The British Columbia Construction Association is celebrating the new legislation, saying it’s long overdue and follows decades of advocacy by themselves and other industry leaders about the issue of payment uncertainty.
‘This is not the finish line — it’s the starting line. To build a strong, reliable system of payments and adjudication, regulations must be responsible, appropriate, with legislation applicable to all of industry, sectors, and owners. We look forward to continuing to work with the provincial government to ensure the legislation is swiftly enacted and in regular consultation with industry’ – Chris Atchison, BCCA President, on BC’s Prompt Payment legislation
BCCA President, Chris Atchison, notes that with Prompt Payment in place the industry can focus on building and not battling over payment, but he says the province still has work to do. Atchison says the new legislation must be backed by both clear regulations and a new adjudication authority.
Staff from the Provincial Ministry of the Attorney General were involved in significant consultation efforts on the possibility of Prompt Payment legislation in the summer and fall of 2024, and had committed to rolling out the legislation in April of this year.
The BCCA says continuing engagement of this kind, and timely action by the provincial government, is key to ensuring the legislation is enacted.
