Parliamentary Precinct: Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates—April 24, 2020
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Impact of COVID-19 on the construction sites in the Parliamentary Precinct
In this section
Context
Within the Parliamentary Precinct, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has taken steps to reduce construction activities in accordance with provincial direction and has worked directly with industry to ensure industry leading health and safety protocols are in place on the remaining active construction sites.
Key messages
- The health and safety of Canadians is our government’s top priority as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak
- In line with the approach taken by the Ontario government, work is continuing for critical health and safety infrastructure, major public institutions, and research and security installations
- Although federal construction projects do not fall under provincial authority, PSPC reduced its construction activity across Ontario, in the spirit of interjurisdictional cooperation and to demonstrate leadership in our collective efforts to flatten the curve in alignment with advice of public health officials
- Alignment with the province of Ontario directives resulted in PSPC temporarily demobilizing 85 projects in the Parliamentary Precinct. This included all projects taking place in occupied space, including fit-up and building improvements
- Construction activities have continued on the Centre Block and the East Block but are limited to activities undertaken in unoccupied spaces to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transfer for both building occupants and construction workers. These projects are aligned with the Government of Ontario’s direction, and have put in place industry-leading health and safety protocols in the context of COVID-19, based on prevention, detection, and response
- Both projects are able to facilitate appropriate social distancing and compartmentalization of the construction site, and are employing such measures as temperature monitors at entry points and requiring non-medical masks for all construction workers
- Necessary repair and maintenance work required for the safe operations of parliamentary facilities will also continue
- Industry, as well as its associations and unions, have voiced their support for keeping federal construction sites open and their workforce employed on project sites that can meet a high standard of health and safety measures. They have expressed this specifically for the work on Parliament Hill, noting that this site is among the safest in the country
- We continue to work with our industry partners, and the provinces and territories to ensure that strict health and safety protocols, including appropriate social distancing and face covering protocols, are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our worksites
If pressed on the Canadian Construction Association request
- We are evaluating the Canadian Construction Association’s request
- Protecting the health and safety of Canadians, jobs, and our economy, is our top priority and we will continue working with our partners across the country to make sure all Canadians have the support they need
Background
PSPC has taken steps to significantly reduce construction activities in the Parliamentary Precinct as a result of the announcement by the Government of Ontario on Friday, April 3, 2020 to scale back construction activity throughout the province.
In addition to continuing work on the Centre Block and the East Block, PSPC will also continue emergency repairs and maintenance work to ensure the continued safe operations of parliamentary facilities. This is directly aligned with Province of Ontario direction.
Projects not aligned with the revised Province of Ontario directives have paused construction work. The 85 demobilized projects are in 3 primary categories:
- interior fit-ups (for example, office fit-ups in parliamentary administrative leased space at 50 O’Connor; retail and operational space fit-up in the Wellington Building)
- interior improvements (for example, drywall repairs and patchwork in the East Block; ceiling and radiator repairs in the Confederation Building; marble stone repairs in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building)
- Exterior repairs (for example, window seal repairs to the Justice Building; window replacement/repairs to the Confederation Building; masonry maintenance on the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council; National Press Building exterior envelope)
PSPC continues to monitor the situation to ensure that any decision regarding construction sites respects the advice of public health officials and aligns with the Canadian Construction Association’s standardized COVID-19 protocols (PDF 221 kB) for all Canadian construction sites and respective provincial and territorial government direction.
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has voiced their support for keeping federal construction sites open and their workforce employed on project sites that can meet a high standard of health and safety measures and that involve defence, security, infrastructure and the administration of justice and government. Federal unions (for example, Unionized Building and Construction Trades Council) have also written to the Minister directly expressing their gratitude for maintaining jobs by keeping the Parliament Hill site open specifically, noting that it is among the safest in the country.
Health and safety
For projects that are continuing (Centre Block and East Block), health and safety remains the number one consideration.
Over the past month, PSPC has worked closely with industry leaders and associations to move the industry toward stringent health and safety protocols in the context of COVID-19, based on prevention, detection, and response. The industry best practices published the Canadian Construction Association are based on this collaborative work. Health and safety protocols implemented on the Centre Block and East Block adhere to the CCA best practices, including the use of temperature monitors at entrance points to the construction sites, the use of non-medical masks for all construction workers, and stringent physical distancing and hygiene practices
The Centre Block is a good illustration of how robust health and safety protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transfer can be implemented in a construction site. In excess of 50,000 m2, the Centre Block has sufficient space and infrastructure such as stairwells, washrooms, and handwashing stations to ensure safe physical distancing practices at all times. In addition, protocols to reduce cross contamination and interaction of workers are further reducing the risk of transfer.
The types of construction activities on a site are also a key consideration. There are 2 main construction activities taking place on the Centre Block—asbestos abatement and excavation work. Asbestos abatement work requires a separated work zone and the use of respirators while excavation work enables workers to use individual excavators and back hoes.
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