Nova Scotia Builder Lien Act now law


As of June 30, changes to the Nova Scotia Builders’ Lien Act came into effect and are expected to protect the rights of subcontractors and suppliers.
The legislative amendments will allow financial holdbacks to be released earlier for building tradespersons once the work is completed.
“When homes or commercial buildings are under construction, everyone should be paid in full for their work in a timely manner, Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey said.
It is now also required by law that all Nova Scotia contractors and buyers of construction use a single site of publication (substantialperformance.com), ensuring notice is given to parties when a contract is substantially performed and when a sub-contract is certified as complete, according to the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS), which had lobbied for Builder Lien Act legal changes for five years.
“The changes to the Builder Lien Act will free up money, allowing it to flow back into the economy earlier,” said CANS president Duncan Williams.
Substantialperformance.com is a free centralized electronic publication site that was developed by CANS with industry support.
"Having a single central point of publication will minimize confusion in the marketplace for all parties concerned, minimize the opportunity to practice unethically and/or illegally, and have a significant and positive impact on productivity for all parties,” according to a CANS statement.