February 13, 2014 – The Ontario Caucus of the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC) has launched an advertising campaign calling on the party leaders of Ontario’s legislature to pass Bill 69, “An act respecting payments made under contracts and subcontracts in the construction industry” a.k.a. Prompt Payment Act, 2013.

The private member’s bill sponsored by Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca passed second reading last May with all party support, says NTCCC, but has been stuck in committee ever since. The purpose of the ad campaign directed at Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath is to encourage the party leaders to work together to ensure Bill 69 moves through committee and to third reading as soon as possible.

The Prompt Payment Act, 2013 addresses “the chronic and worsening problem of late payments”, notes NTCCC, “which is putting undue risk and financial hardship on Ontario’s 40,000 construction businesses, many of them small, family-owned enterprises”.

Construction contractors and subcontractors carry substantial upfront costs for every project—as well as ongoing wage, benefit and material costs—yet they wait 70 to 90 days or more to be reimbursed for those costs, adds NTCCC.

“It is simply wrong that contractors and subcontractors are forced to finance the work this way and be exposed to financial risk just because someone isn’t paying their bills on time,” said Eryl Roberts, a member of NTCCC representing the electrical trade contractors. “Bill 69, which establishes a monthly payment system for all parties to a construction contract, must pass to put an end to this unacceptable situation.”

The campaign is backed by a Prompt Payment website and electronic petition. Please ADD your name to the petition, and SHARE with others.

“We are simply asking the three party leaders to do the right thing,” added Roberts.

* NOTE about video: For your convenience, we have combined the four original videos we received so as to keep all the information in one place.