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Prompt payment survey for subcontractors

Share your feedback on the Public Works Act prompt payment rules in this survey.

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Why are we asking?

As of April 1, 2025, Alberta's Public Works Act (PWA) includes prompt payment requirements for eligible Government of Alberta public works contracts. Some public works contracts, including certain Public-Private Partnerships (P3) and maintenance-related contracts, are exempt from the prompt payment and adjudication requirements. This survey focuses only on contracts that are subject to the PWA prompt payment requirements.

The PWA sets rules and deadlines for paying contractors, subcontractors, and sub-subcontractors on public works projects.

We want to understand how these rules are working from your perspective and learn about any challenges you have experienced.

Key payment rules

For eligible public works projects:

  • A proper invoice must be submitted at least every 31 days while work is underway.
  • Owners must pay contractors within 28 days of receiving a proper invoice.
  • Contractors must pay subcontractors within 35 days of receiving a proper invoice. 
  • Subcontractors must pay their subcontractors within 42 days of receiving a proper invoice. 

If there is a payment dispute:

You may use the adjudication process, which provides an independent decision on certain payment disputes.

About this survey

This survey is for subcontractors and sub-subcontractors who have worked on eligible Government of Alberta public works projects since April 1, 2025.

We are seeking feedback on:

  • Payment timelines
  • Payment delays
  • Awareness of prompt payment requirements
  • Challenges or concerns related to payment

This survey is for information only. It is not intended to:

  • Investigate specific payment disputes
  • Assess the performance of contractors
  • Resolve payment issues
  • Replace the dispute resolution processes available under the PWA

If you have a payment dispute, continue to use the dispute resolution processes set out in the PWA and your contract.

Survey

1 of 8 (0%)

Screening

Since April 1, 2025, has your organization worked as a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, supplier, or consultant on an eligible Government of Alberta public works construction project?

To complete this survey, your organization must have worked as a subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, supplier, or consultant on an eligible Government of Alberta public works construction project on or after April 1, 2025.

Acknowledgment

Participation in this survey is voluntary. Before beginning, please review the following conditions:

  • This survey is for information-gathering purposes only.
  • Alberta Infrastructure is not investigating or deciding payment disputes through this survey.
  • I must not include personal information, project names, contract numbers, legal file details, confidential commercial information, or any other information that could identify a specific project, dispute, third party, or individual.
  • Providing project information does not create a complaint or enforcement action. Responses will be used for research and analysis purposes only and will not result in a complaint or enforcement action.
  • Payment disputes should continue to be addressed through the processes available under the Public Works Act and applicable contracts.
  • Information submitted through this survey may be disclosed as required by law, including under access to information and privacy legislation.

Respondent and organization information

Providing your company name and contact name is optional and is not required to complete the survey. This information will only be used to contextualize responses and where necessary, to follow up for clarification, if you agree to be contacted.

Do you consent to being contacted for follow-up or clarification regarding your survey responses?
Organization Type/Role
Trade Discipline
Prior to this survey, were you aware that the PWA requires project sites to display signage indicating whether a project is subject to prompt payment requirements?
If signage was present on the project/construction site, did it help you to understand whether prompt payment requirements applied to the project?
On projects you worked on, was it clear whether the project was subject to prompt payment requirements?

Experience with payment

Before this survey, were you aware that prompt payment timelines are triggered by the submission of a Proper Invoice?
Before this survey, did you understand what information must be included for an invoice to be considered a Proper Invoice under the prompt payment requirements?
Have any of the invoices that you submitted been returned or rejected because they were not considered proper invoices?
Were you informed when the contractor received payment from the owner for work related to your invoice?
On eligible public works projects since April 1, 2025, how often has your organization received payment within the applicable prompt payment timelines?
Are prompt payment requirements, including proper invoice requirements and payment timelines, included in your contracts for eligible public works projects?
Where included, are these requirements clear and understandable?
Since April 1, 2025, have you experienced any non-payment or delayed payment (i.e., payment received after the timelines required under the PWA) on a public works construction project?
If payment was delayed or withheld, did you receive a written explanation or notice within the applicable timeline?
What was the nature of the payment issue?
Approximately how long was payment delayed?
What impact(s) have payment delays had on your business? (Select all that apply)

Causes of payment delays

In your opinion, what are the most common causes of payment delays? (Select all that apply)

Dispute resolution

Which of the following payment dispute resolution processes are you aware of? (Select all that apply)
If you experienced a payment issue, did you take any action to resolve it?
Which of the following action(s) did you pursue? (Select all that apply)
Why did you not pursue a dispute resolution process? (Select all that apply)

Communication and support

How familiar are you with prompt payment requirements under the PWA?
Where do you go to find prompt payment resources? (Select all that apply)
What aspects of prompt payment requirements would you like more information about? (Select all that apply)
How would you prefer to receive information about prompt payment requirements? (Select all that apply)

Overall assessment

Overall, based on your experience, how well are prompt payment requirements supporting timely payment on eligible public works projects?