Construction Law in Canada, 2nd Edition

Recently cited by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Dalren Limited v. Loadstar Trailers Inc., 2026 ONCA 500

Construction Projects from Start to Finish
Successful construction and infrastructure projects are built on a pragmatic understanding of the practical, legal and financial risks involved. Construction Law in Canada, 2nd Edition by Annik Forristal, Justice Leonard Ricchetti and Timothy Murphy is the first Canadian resource to provide, in a single, convenient volume, a pragmatic overview from start to finish of the key factors involved in construction and infrastructure projects.

With this construction text on your desk, you'll be able to better understand the practical and legal issues that arise during your construction projects and how to manage these issues knowledgeably, efficiently, and confidently. If you're a lawyer, you'll benefit by:

• Learning construction law fundamentals
• Understanding the risks your clients are facing
• Reducing the need to consult specialized lawyers – thus saving your clients time and money
• Increasing your ability to provide a wider range of services to your clients

If you're a construction professional, you'll benefit by:

• Understanding the practical and legal issues essential to completing a project
• Learning how to mitigate project risks, including cost overruns and delays
• Knowing when to seek focused legal advice
• Conversing comfortably with your project team and your own lawyer

What’s New In This Edition

• The role of the key construction project parties
• Planning and development approvals required for construction projects in Ontario, including official plans, zoning by-laws, and plans of subdivision
• Prompt payment and adjudication
• Regulatory offences and due diligence defenses
• Bankruptcies and insolvencies in construction

The 2nd Edition also addresses all aspects of construction from start to finish, building and expanding upon the national content of the 1st Edition, including:

• Summary of construction project delivery methods, including public private partnerships
• Holdbacks, priorities, and trusts related to construction liens
• Occupational health and safety laws for construction projects
• Environmental laws and issues impacting construction projects
• Legal framework for due diligence when purchasing lands for construction
• Key elements of the tender process for construction services and work
• Financing for major construction projects
• Insurance and surety bonds for construction projects
• Construction hypothecs in Quebec
• Dispute resolution processes, including alternative dispute resolution

Who Should Read This Book

• Lawyers who practise in areas that overlap with construction and real estate law
• Developers, contractors, architects, engineers and construction project consultants who need to understand the legal and practical issues engaged at each stage of a construction project and how to avoid costly errors
• Anyone who needs a one-stop resource on construction projects from start to finish