Question Period Note: Federal building occupants with confirmed cases of COVID-19

A large proportion of the public service has transitioned to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government offices remain open and many clients’ preparations for eventual return to the workplace are underway, guided by regional public health agencies. However, with Canada entering the second wave of the COVID-19 virus and confirmed cases increasing across the country, there may be a heightened concern about how confirmed cases are being communicated to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) building occupants.

Note: Questions on employees returning to the workplace should be responded to by the President of the Treasury Board, as the employer.

• PSPC is committed to providing healthy and productive work environments
  • Incident reporting and specialized disinfection protocols are in place for suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19
  • National cleaning specifications have been augmented to cleaning and disinfection of high-touch points to twice daily, based upon guidance from Health Canada
  • PSPC is gauging client requirements for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, other protective equipment as required

If pressed on confirmed cases in PSPC buildings:

• Clients are asked to report all suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to PSPC’s National Service Call Centre
• PSPC or their service provider will react quickly in mobilizing cleaning contractors for required disinfecting processes
• An appropriate disinfection plan is developed and may include disinfection of employee workspaces, elevator control panels and buttons, washrooms, and kitchen and lunch areas
• The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) tracks confirmed cases within the federal public service. As of November 10, 2020, TBS has reported 1086 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the federal public service

If pressed on notifying employees of confirmed cases of COVID-19:

• PSPC is committed to providing healthy and productive work environments and takes seriously the responsibility to notify employer organizations of confirmed cases of COVID-19
• Established reporting protocols were followed in the cases with the National Service Call Centre being notified by the client organization so cleaning and disinfection could begin immediately
• As per standard practice, building Occupational and Safety Health committees are informed and in turn initiate notification to building clients (employers) who then are responsible under the Canada Labour Code to inform their employees
• PSPC and their service providers work with the employer and other involved stakeholders to assist with the above protocols

Next steps

The department continues its engagement with central agencies, clients and our bargaining agents to collaborate on guidance. PSPC will also continue to advance procedures to ensure healthy and productive work environments for the easing of restrictions and planning a safe return to the workplace in our buildings as guidance evolves.

PSPC will continue to reinforce reporting protocols for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases with service providers and clients to ensure a consistent national approach and understanding.

PSPC will continue to track building readiness measures nationwide and take advantage of opportunities to demonstrate building readiness protocols for instilling greater confidence and reducing uncertainties within our client community.

With the rise of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country and public health authorities confirming the second wave of the virus, PSPC continues to work diligently with its service providers, landlords, health authorities, clients and industry to ensure protocols for reporting of confirmed cases and specialized cleaning requests are dealt with rapidly.

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