Form 9 — Certificate of Substantial Performance, prepared properly
Publication of a Form 9 starts the clock that releases holdback. This worksheet prepares the certificate’s contents and records where and when it was published — the dates your money depends on.
Free to fill and print
The worksheet opens in Blue Crane's Form Maker: fill the fields on screen, print, done — no account. Free PDFs carry a small Blue Crane footer line; the one-time Form Maker Pass ($12 for 30 days, $79 for a year) strips all Blue Crane text for clean, client-ready prints and auto-fills your company details on all 126 forms.
Worksheet and record, not a filing. Where an official form or filing exists, this prepares the information and keeps your copy — the filing itself is done with the regulator.
What the certificate contains
A Form 9 under the Construction Act identifies:
- The project and its location
- The owner and the contractor
- Who certified or declared substantial performance — the payment certifier, or the owner and contractor together
- The date substantial performance was reached
- Where and when the certificate was published
The part people get wrong: publication
Preparing the certificate is half the job — the legal effect flows from certifying and publishing it correctly and on time. The timelines are strict and date-driven. Our Form 9 publication guide walks the how, where, and when of publication step by step — read it before relying on any date.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Certificate of Substantial Performance?
It is the certificate (Form 9) under Ontario’s Construction Act recording that a contract has reached substantial performance. Its publication starts key timelines — including the countdown to release of the statutory holdback — which is why the certificate and its publication date matter so much.
Who certifies substantial performance?
The payment certifier where the contract has one; otherwise the owner and the contractor make the determination together. The certificate then has to be published in the manner the Act requires.
Is this worksheet the official Form 9?
No — it prepares the certificate’s contents and records the certification and publication details for your file. The prescribed form, properly certified and published, is what carries legal effect. For a live project, confirm the current requirements or get advice.
Where do I find the publication rules and deadlines?
Our Form 9 publication guide covers the how, where, and when — including the traps. This page deliberately does not restate the deadlines; use the guide, which is maintained against the Act.
The paperwork is the easy part now.
The Blue Crane App keeps documents, certs, crew sign-offs, and costs per job site — the Form Maker is the free front door.