An alternative and cost-effective option for smaller construction prompt payment disputes is Civil Claim Court, and free mediation services that the parties can request or be directed to. Claims of up to $100,000 can be referred to the Alberta Court of Justice Civil Division. Filing fees are low, and many such files are diverted to a half day of free mediation – especially when mediation is requested by the applicant or parties to the dispute. Successful mediated outcomes can be filed as court documents, and mediations can be scheduled much earlier than court dates. If a mediated settlement is not reached, you can still proceed to trial. You can find full details on the following websites:
https://albertacourts.ca/cj/areas-of-law/civil/claims/filing
https://www.alberta.ca/civil-mediation.aspx