COCA Releases Updated Prompt Payment & Adjudication Resources
The Council of Ontario Construction Associations (COCA) has announced significant updates to its Prompt Payment and Adjudication resources as major changes to Ontario’s Construction Act come into force in early 2026. These updates reflect new provisions introduced through Bill 216, the Building Ontario for You Act (Budget Measures), 2024, and refined by Bill 60, both aimed at strengthening payment certainty and improving dispute resolution in the provincial construction sector.
Key Legislative Changes Now in Effect
The revised Construction Act introduces several impactful measures designed to streamline payment cycles and reduce costly disputes across Ontario construction projects. According to COCA, the newly implemented changes include:
- Mandatory annual release of holdback, ensuring stakeholders receive funds more predictably.
- Elimination of statutory notices of non‑payment for holdback, simplifying administrative processes.
- Enhanced adjudication mechanisms, enabling faster and more cost‑effective resolution of payment disputes.
These reforms build on Ontario’s prompt payment framework originally introduced in the 2018 update to the Act, which fully came into force in 2019.
Updated Prompt Payment & Adjudication Toolkit Now Available
To help the industry navigate these new requirements with confidence, COCA has fully updated its Prompt Payment and Adjudication Toolkit. The toolkit provides clear guidance on:
- Proper invoicing rules
- Adjudication procedures
- Payment timelines for owners, contractors, and subcontractors
- Best practices to maintain compliance under the modernized Act
The updated toolkit aligns with the latest legislative amendments and is positioned as a powerful and essential resource for Ontario’s construction businesses—especially as payment delays remain a costly challenge for contractors and their supply chains.
