While Nova Scotia’s premiership hopefuls highlight health care, education and the economy in their platforms, one industry stakeholder group is calling for a campaign commitment of its own.

The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) wants the provincial government to enact a final regulatory and adjudication framework for prompt payment legislation by the end of the year, citing an increase in “delinquent payments” to companies in the commercial construction industry.

“We’ve got a bit of a perfect storm right now with the pandemic, material supplies in short supply and of course, costs going up,” said Duncan Williams, president and CEO of CANS.

CANS represents some 800 small and large companies throughout Atlantic Canada. Williams said every year, 35 to 40 construction-related companies go bankrupt, resulting in 700 to 800 jobs lost.

“If you look at the priorities that are important to our industry including diversity, hiring youth and apprenticeship … it’s very difficult to do that when you don’t get paid,” he explained.

“A lot of our members report this, they’re actually incurring interest charges and they’re not bidding certain owners, general contractors or project managers because of their past experience.”

Sometimes, Williams said delinquent payments occur when there’s a misunderstanding of the law, including the circumstances under which a client has the right to withhold payment.

Other times, said L.E. Sheet Metal Ltd. co-owner Heather Cruickshanks, the right paperwork wasn’t completed or the paperwork was lost by the client.

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