SAC's Role

The Surety Association of Canada strongly supports the automation of the suretyship process and has resolved to direct its energies and resources toward assisting stakeholders in designing and implementing electronic tendering/bonding policies in a responsible and fair manner.

Of course, assistance can take many forms and in deciding our approach, the association first resolved what it would not do: SAC cannot become involved as an active participant in the process of issuing surety bonds. The association will not develop or even promote a proprietary software system for the creation, execution and delivery of surety bonds by member firms or any other stakeholders. The association’s role, as it is with other aspects of industry activity will be one of a facilitator and advocate.

Facilitator

The Surety Association of Canada will direct its efforts to assisting stakeholders i.e. owners, design professionals, contractors, sureties, brokers and software vendors in the transition from the paper world to the digital world. This will include:

• Providing general guidance to the surety and construction community (including owners and their representatives) to assist in navigating the transition to an automated environment. This includes the publication of Designing Electronic Pathways Together: A Blueprint Electronic Bonding.

• Setting criteria for electronic delivery systems to ensure integrity, verifiability and enforceability of any electronic document delivered. For the most part, these criteria are set out in the document entitled: Evaluation Guidelines: Electronic Bonding Technologies.

• Evaluating existing systems against SAC established criteria captured in the Checklist of Industry Requirements. The assessments of existing software packages can be accessed by SAC members on the Members Only zone of this website. Project owners and their representatives can obtain copies of these assessments by contacting the SAC office at 905-677-1353, or by email at surety[at]suretycanada.com .

Advocate

SAC will focus its energies and resources to promote the responsible use of technology in bidding and bond issuance. This would include:

• Meeting with external stakeholders (owners and their representatives) to promote the use of automated surety bonds in a fair and cost effective manner. Central to this activity will be promoting the concept of flexibility in the choice of system employed with the discretion given to the provider of the documents.

• Acting as an information resource for members and external stakeholders to explain the process, offer advice where appropriate and refer inquiries to the appropriate resource material; e.g. Designing Electronic Pathways Together: A Blueprint Electronic Bonding.

• Work with governments where required to promote an industry friendly legislative environment.