UDI Lower Mainland joint submission with CHBA BC to the Ministry of Attorney General.

The Attorney General directed Ministry staff to prepare a legislative proposal for further consideration by government, based on evidence from other jurisdictions – particularly Ontario – that suggests prompt payment legislation is working. As legislation is being drafted, UDI and CHBA BC have submitted a letter outlining potential impacts of this legislation on housing development in BC, along with recommendations for consideration. These include:

• A public-sector-first rollout of prompt payment, wherein the legislation initially only applies to public sector projects, before expansion to private sector projects is considered, and that during the initial public-sector implementation period the Province monitor outcomes and provide education, training, and guidance to support potential expansion to the private sector;
• A more flexible payment timeline model, such as a 45-day payment window from the invoice “cut-off” date set out in the contract; 
• To avoid disruption to in-stream projects, inclusion of transition measures so contracts entered into prior to the effective date for each phase are exempt from any new requirements; and 
• Provision of clear guidelines for what constitutes a "proper invoice".