Jared Epp’s construction law article called “Moving Forward with Prompt Payment” was published in the summer issue of We Build, the magazine of the Saskatchewan Construction Association.
The article concerns the upcoming changes to the Saskatchewan Builder’s Lien Act.
Media outlets in Saskatchewan no longer have access to Police One, the police radio scanner that allowed journalists to hear what is happening on the secure police channel.
Both Saskatoon and Regina police services say they have closed their scanner channels to media to comply with the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation. The problem lies in the sharing of personal information. Regina police Chief Evan Bray said information including names, addresses, dates of birth, past criminal charges and other pieces of personal information were shared on the dispatch channel.
Representing the media, Sean argues in today’s Saskatoon StarPhoenix that journalists provide an important service by alerting the public to potentially dangerous situations. “There is a huge public interest in ensuring that the media have access to that timely information so that they can alert the public to the issues that are occurring.”
Sean has done interviews with the CBC as well as the StarPhoenix. The CBC news story can be read here.
On Wednesday June 26, Andrew Gaucher will be speaking about the importance of Estate Planning at the “Planning Ahead Seminar” hosted by Hillcrest Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. The evening session, beginning at 6:30 will also include other planning aspects such as funeral pre-planning, insurance and real estate.
There is no cost or registration required.
Hillcrest is located at 210 Wess Road, Saskatoon.
Congratulations to former articling students Andrew Gaucher and Curtis Clavelle who have signed the roll and accepted positions as Associate Lawyers. Both Andrew and Curtis have joined the Litigation team at Robertson Stromberg.
In the May 2019 issue of Canadian Lawyer Marg Bruineman writes about the changes afoot in construction lien legislation across Canada.
In the article she talks about how the increasingly complicated construction projects have necessitated discussions around prompt payment and adjudication regimes. Industry groups such as subcontractors and trades have been calling for legislative reform as money is slow to “cascade down the construction pyramid” when claims choke the cashflow of a project.
In the article, Jared Epp gives his take on the current situation in Saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan, like Ontario, is conceiving of a very broad adjudication regime as part of this new legislation and it would allow a lot of the interim disputes and disputes before the project is completed to to put in front of someone, probably from someone in industry, just to make some sort of a decision. There are still quite a few disputes in construction projects that wind their way through the courts, but there’s really no need for them to go that way. In a lot of cases, parties simply need someone to make a decision.
Exciting times in the construction industry!
Curtis Clavelle and Alyshea Sparks have been honoured with the Award of Distinction from the Law Society of Saskatchewan for achieving the highest marks in the 2018-2019 CPLED Bar Admissions Program.
Curtis completed his Juris Doctor of Law with Great Distinction at the University of Saskatchewan in 2018, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Great Distinction as well. Over the course of his law school career, Curtis earned numerous awards, including the Goldenberg Prize in Taxation, the W.G. Morrow-R.C. Carter Prize in Indian and Aboriginal Law, and the Brad Berg and Brian Rolfes LGBT Rights Scholarship. In addition to these academic achievements, Curtis served as the President of Usask OUTlaws for two years in law school and volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada and the Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc. (CLASSIC) throughout law school.
Curtis is completing his articles with Robertson Stromberg and we look forward to working with him as an associate in general practice.
Alyshea Sparks is articling with the Ministry of Justice and looks forward to continuing her career in the Regina Public Prosecutions office.
Congratulations to both of you.