b'Legal Since the wording of the contract cannot offer parties comfortAllowing parties to bargain for which versionap-plies risks uncertainty, inconsistency and variances in rights for different parties on one improvement. As the about which version applies, lien claimants should act cautiouslyCourt held in Crosslinx, the transition provisions re-quire that one legislative scheme apply to the entirety and assume that the Old Act applies, until they learn otherwise. of an improvement. 12Since the wording of the contract cannot offer par-ties comfort about which version applies, lien claimants should act cautiously and assume that the Old Act ap-plies, until they learn otherwise.ConclusionThe change from the Old Act to the New Act is gradual and remains ongoing. The transition period has been punctuated by surprises for parties when disputes have gone before the Courts. Lien claimants can protect themselves by assuming they have the rights afforded by the Old Act, rather than risking a missed lien period by hoping that the New Act applies.References1. Construction Act, s.87.3(1). www.ontario.ca/laws/ statute/90c30#BK134.2. Crosslinx TransitSolutionsConstructorsv.Form& Build Supply (Toronto) Inc.,2021 ONSC 3396 atpara32 (Crosslinx).www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2021/2021onsc3396/2021onsc3396.html#par32.3. Crosslinx at para33.www.canlii.org/en/on/ onsc/doc/2021/2021onsc3396/2021onsc3396.html#par33.4. ConstructionAct, s.1(4).www.ontario.ca/laws/ statute/90c30#BK0.5. 2023ONSC1849 (DNR).www.canlii.org/ en/on/onsc/doc/2023/2023onsc1849/2023onsc1849.html.6. DNRatpara 6. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/ 2023/2023onsc1849/2023onsc1849.html#par6.7. DNRatpara 26. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/ 2023/2023onsc1849/2023onsc1849.html#par26.8. DNR at paras28-29.www.canlii.org/en/on/ onsc/doc/2023/2023onsc1849/2023onsc1849.html#par28.9.David Bristow et al.,Construction Builders and Me-chanics Liens in Canada, 8thed, 3:45 (Westlaw). 10. Construction Act,s. 1improvement. www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c30#BK0. 11. Construction Act, RSO 1990, c C.30, s 5, as amend- ed. www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c30#BK6.12. Crosslinx,at paras23, 25-33.www.canlii.org/ en/on/onsc/doc/2021/2021onsc3396/2021onsc3396.html#par23.A Cautionary NoteThe foregoing provides only an overview and does notconstitutelegaladvice.Readersarecautioned againstmakinganydecisionsbasedonthismaterial alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained.16ONTARIO ROOFING NEWSISSUE 3 2023 THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN'