Alberta introduces Bill 30 to help create housing despite court ruling

The province is introducing new legislation to encourage faster payments for construction projects and improve governance in multi-family communities.

Bill 30 provides for changes to three pieces of legislation: the Law on Condominiums, the Law on Timely Payment and Construction Bonds, and the Law on Public Works.

If the bill is passed, it will create a Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal.

“A tribunal dedicated to resolving common condominium disputes will provide an acceptable and affordable alternative to litigation,” Alberta Services and Red Tape Minister Dale Nellie said Monday in the legislature.

“Especially for those cases that come up on a regular basis and don’t usually go through litigation.”

The tribunal’s mandate and enforcement powers are not defined, but the province says those details will be set out in regulations.

Nellie says that after consulting with about 200 stakeholders, he heard the need for effective dispute resolution.

The minister could not say when the new tribunal would be established.

Bill 30 would also make changes to apartment management and make any “returns” of apartments treated as apartment fees, requiring immediate payment from owners.

The province plans to implement the changes, if the bill passes, in the spring of 2025.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Chelan Skulsky