A Canadian General Construction Contract is a comprehensive legal agreement between a property owner and a general contractor that governs the execution of construction work in Canada. This document establishes the complete framework for a construction project, including the scope of work, contract price, payment terms, project timeline, warranty obligations, insurance requirements, and dispute resolution procedures, all tailored to comply with Canadian federal and provincial construction law.

Canadian construction law is regulated primarily at the provincial level, with each province maintaining its own construction lien legislation. Ontario's Construction Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30, as amended by Bill 142 in 2018) governs construction projects in that province, while British Columbia's Builders Lien Act (S.B.C. 1997, c. 45) and Alberta's Builders' Lien Act (R.S.A. 2000, c. B-7) apply to projects in those respective provinces. Each statute establishes lien rights for contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers, along with mandatory holdback obligations that owners must observe.

The statutory holdback is a cornerstone requirement of Canadian construction law. In most provinces, the owner must retain 10% of each progress payment for the duration of the statutory lien period. This holdback creates a trust fund from which unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can seek payment. The lien period is 60 days in Ontario, 55 days in British Columbia, and 45 days in Alberta. An owner who releases holdback funds before the lien period expires becomes personally liable to lien claimants for the amount improperly released, regardless of whether the general contractor has been paid in full.

Ontario's 2018 Construction Act amendments introduced mandatory prompt payment provisions under Part I.1, requiring the owner to pay the general contractor within 28 days of receiving a proper invoice. The general contractor must then pay subcontractors within 7 days of receiving payment. Payment disputes are subject to mandatory interim adjudication under Part II.1, which provides a fast-track resolution process producing binding interim decisions. The federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act (S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 369) applies similar requirements to federal construction projects across Canada.

A Canadian General Construction Contract is essential whenever a property owner engages a general contractor for construction, renovation, or improvement work on real property anywhere in Canada. Whether the project involves building a new residential home in suburban Ontario, renovating a commercial office space in downtown Vancouver, constructing a warehouse facility in Calgary, or developing a multi-unit residential complex in any Canadian province, this contract provides the legal foundation that protects both parties throughout the construction process.

Homeowners undertaking significant renovation projects need this contract to clearly define the scope of work, establish a fixed price or cost-plus arrangement, set completion deadlines, and specify warranty obligations. Without a written construction contract, homeowners have limited recourse when contractors fail to complete work on schedule, use substandard materials, or abandon the project. The contract also establishes the mechanism for change orders, preventing disputes about whether additional work was authorized and what it should cost.

General contractors engaging multiple subcontractors for specialized trades require this contract to establish the prime contractual relationship with the owner. The general construction contract forms the basis for all subcontract agreements, flowing down key requirements including scope of work, payment terms, holdback obligations, insurance requirements, and workers' compensation clearance certificate obligations under WSIB (Ontario), WorkSafeBC (British Columbia), or WCB (Alberta).

Commercial property owners, condominium corporations, developers, and institutional clients all require a general construction contract that complies with the applicable provincial construction lien legislation. Projects funded by public money may require additional compliance with public procurement requirements and performance bonding. Without this contract, neither party has a structured framework for managing the project, resolving disputes, or enforcing quality standards, leaving both exposed to significant financial and legal risk.

This contract is also needed to ensure compliance with the GST/HST requirements under the federal Excise Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-15), provincial safety codes, and municipal building permit processes. It addresses insurance and indemnification obligations that protect both parties from liability arising from workplace injuries, property damage, or third-party claims during the construction process.

A comprehensive Canadian General Construction Contract must identify both the owner and contractor with full legal names, addresses, business registration numbers, and CRA Business Numbers for GST/HST purposes. The contractor's provincial licence or registration number must be included where applicable, such as Tarion registration in Ontario for new home construction or the BC contractor licence number.

The scope of work must be described in sufficient detail to avoid disputes. Reference attached plans, specifications, and drawings where available. Specify whether the contract is fixed price (lump sum), cost-plus (with a defined markup percentage), unit price, or time and materials. Include provisions for site access, working hours, and coordination with the owner's other contractors or consultants.

The contract price must be stated in Canadian dollars, along with a clear payment schedule tied to progress milestones or monthly progress claims. Include the statutory holdback clause compliant with provincial requirements, specifying the holdback percentage (typically 10%) and the applicable lien period. For Ontario projects, include prompt payment terms compliant with the Construction Act Part I.1, requiring 28-day payment from proper invoice submission and 7-day flow-through to subcontractors.

The change order process must define how changes to scope, price, or schedule are requested, approved, priced, and documented in writing. Without a clear change order procedure, disputes about unauthorized extras constitute the most common source of construction litigation in Canada. Include the project timeline with start date, milestone dates, and substantial completion date, along with provisions for excusable delays and liquidated damages for contractor-caused delays.

Insurance requirements should include commercial general liability (minimum CAD $2-5 million per occurrence), builder's risk insurance for the full value of the project, and professional liability for design-build projects. Workers' compensation compliance is critical and must address the contractor's obligation to maintain WSIB (Ontario), WorkSafeBC (British Columbia), or WCB (Alberta) coverage and provide clearance certificates before commencing work. Include a dispute resolution clause specifying mediation, arbitration, or litigation in the applicable provincial court, and a governing law clause referencing the province where the project is located. Address GST/HST obligations and include provisions for warranty, termination, indemnification, and notices.