Review these documents provided by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA):

When Can Architects Not Certify Substantial Performance? https://www.oaa.on.ca/knowledge-and-resources/practice-advisory-knowledge-base/practice-advisory-knowledge-base-detail/When-Can-Architects-Not-Certify-Substantial-Performance(Links to an external site.)

Substantial Completion vs. Substantial Performance: What's the Difference? https://www.oaa.on.ca/knowledge-and-resources/practice-advisory-knowledge-base/practice-advisory-knowledge-base-detail/Substl-Completion-vs-Performance-Whats-the-Difference(Links to an external site.)

Also, identify and review other Canadian sources and documents (including the text) related to Substantial Completion and Substantial Performance. If you review a US source, be sure to identify it as such and compare it to Canadian or Ontario requirements.

Address these questions in your initial post and replies:

• What is the importance of these two concepts to the parties to a construction contract?
• What is the role of the architect and/or engineer in determining both situations?
• What are the main elements of the Certificate of Substantial Performance in Ontario and their importance to the general contractor?