Canada: Construction & Planning

The Alberta Court of Appeal has clarified how courts should analyze pure economic loss claims in construction defect cases, distinguishing between negligent supply of defective structures and negligent performance of professional services. This decision establishes that these two categories require separate duty of care analyses and confirms that professionals may face concurrent liability in both contract and tort absent contractual limitations.

The amendments were developed with the input of stakeholders, including members of the judiciary, the legal profession, government ministries and the public, in response to ongoing concerns regarding chambers delays, scheduling inefficiencies, inaccurate time estimates, and matters that are set down for hearing but ultimately do not proceed as scheduled

Corporate Disputes convened practitioners from Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland to discuss how infrastructure disputes are changing.

Clark Wilson LLP announces recognition in the 2027 Best Lawyers rankings and highlights recent construction law publications by partners Scott Lamb and Alec Kobetitch. The firm's achievements span multiple practice areas and demonstrate continued excellence in legal services.

A 2026 Ontario Court of Appeal decision reveals that construction contracts signed years after legislative reforms may still be governed by the old Construction Lien Act if the procurement process began before July 1, 2018. The ruling demonstrates how early project proposals and negotiations can determine which statutory regime applies, regardless of when the final contract was executed or where the project was ultimately built.

Le 8 septembre 2026, dans l'affaire Sommet Prestige Canada inc. c. Ville de Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, le juge Lukasz Granosik de la Cour supérieure du Québec (la « Cour ») rend le premier jugement portant sur la notion de « valeur écologique importante » (la « VEI ») du nouvel article 245 de la Loi sur l'aménagement et l'urbanisme (la « LAU »).

La Colombie-Britannique introduit un système de paiement rapide pour les projets de construction avec la Construction Prompt Payment Act, établissant des délais stricts de 28 jours pour les maîtres d'ouvrage et 7 jours pour les entrepreneurs. Comment ces nouvelles échéances de paiement et le processus d'arbitrage intérimaire transformeront-ils la gestion des flux de trésorerie et le règlement des différends dans l'industrie de la construction?

British Columbia's Construction Prompt Payment Act introduces mandatory payment deadlines and fast-track adjudication for construction disputes. Owners must pay contractors within 28 days, contractors must pay subcontractors within seven days, and payment disputes can be resolved through binding adjudication outside the courts. The legislation also shortens the holdback period under the Builders Lien Act and eliminates standalone liens against holdbacks.

Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has taken the rare step of referring Toronto's Official Plan Amendment 804 to the Ontario Land Tribunal for recommendation. This referral involves the redesignation of certain Employment Areas and will have significant implications for how the province's new "area of employment" regime is applied across Ontario. The Tribunal's forthcoming recommendation will be closely watched by municipalities and stakeholders throughout the province.