Looking Out for your Neighbours – Supreme Court of Canada requires Notice to Subcontractors about Labour and Material Bonds
Introduction In its recent decision in Valard Construction Ltd. v Bird Construction Co.,[1] the Supreme Court of Canada imposed an obligation on project owners and general contractors, who are designated as trustees under labour and material (“L&M”) bonds, to provide...
10 Legal Risks in Design, Construction and Operation of a Cannabis Production Facility
As the Canadian federal government continues the process of legalizing cannabis across the country, we are witnessing the early consolidation of a new industry involving cannabis giants as well as smaller retailers and producers. This article will focus on those...
How to Avoid the Summertime Blues: Employers Facing Safety Issues with Legalization of Cannabis
Drug and alcohol impairment in the workplace has long been a concern for employers. Since the introduction of Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act, and the Government of Canada’s intention to legalize possession of small amounts of cannabis...
The Réseau Électrique Métropolitain: Theory and Practice
On September 27, 2017 the National Assembly adopted the Act respecting the Réseau électrique métropolitain, SQ 2017, c. 17 (the “REM Act”). The purpose of the Act is to facilitate the carrying out of a shared transportation infrastructure project with...
( Available in French only )
Santé et sécurité au travail : quand le raccourci sur un chantier devient un homicide
Journal Constructo – 13 mars 2018 Pour un employeur, prendre les mesures nécessaires pour assurer la sécurité du travailleur, c’est une obligation. Les employeurs récalcitrants l’ont depuis longtemps appris à leurs dépens en recevant des constats d’infraction pénale. Toutefois, les...
BIM, Blockchain and the Smart Construction Contract
While the construction industry has traditionally been criticized for being too slow to innovate, the last several years have seen it embrace new business practices, new software and new technologies. The increased use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a...
( Available in French only )
Droits sur les mutations immobilières : les récents développements
Journal Constructo – 22 février 2018 Quasi immuable depuis son adoption en 1976, la Loi concernant les droits sur les mutations immobilières a connu d’importants changements en 2017; en voici un résumé: La société prête-nom : Le mécanisme de la...
The Time Limit for Making Claims
The Alberta Limitations Act[1] sets time limits within which a party may commence an action. After a limitation period has expired, potential defendants need no longer be concerned about stale claims haunting them because the claim will be time-barred. Subject...
Refresher on Extras and Back Charges: Impact Painting Ltd v Man-Shield (Alta) Construction Inc
During the course of a construction project, the question often arises as to what is a valid extra and what is a valid back charge. These issues were discussed in some detail in the recent Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench...
Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench Underlines the Need for Clarity and Good Faith in the Competitive Bidding Process
In its recent decision in Surespan Construction Ltd. v Saskatchewan,[1] the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench reviewed the law of tendering and applied it to a dispute between a bidding contractor and a project owner. In doing so, the Court...
