Question Period Note: Federal building management during COVID-19

A large proportion of the public service continues to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government offices remain open to ensure the delivery of essential government functions and many clients’ preparations for eventual return to the workplace are ongoing, guided by regional public health agencies.

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

• Public Services and Procurement Canada is committed to providing healthy and productive work environments in line with the latest public health guidance and global best practices in property management
  • Although occupancy levels are currently reduced, Public Services and Procurement Canada buildings remain operational and all mandatory maintenance and life safety system testing continue on our regular schedule ensuring that essential government functions can be delivered in a safe environment
  • COVID-19 protocols remain in place, including:
  • Augmented cleaning of high touch points
  • Flushing of building water systems in low occupancy spaces for continued water potability
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning measures to increase outdoor air and maximize filtration
  • Specialized disinfection services for suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19
  • Base building cleaning costs have increased throughout the pandemic by almost 28% across Public Services and Procurement Canada’s crown-owned portfolio
  • If pressed on return to work:
  • On February 28, 2022, Health Canada’s Public Service Occupational Health Program issued updated guidance indicating that building occupancy can be increased. Federal employers are responsible for developing and implementing their return to the workplace strategies

Mandatory Vaccinations

PSPC’s real property portfolio is comprised of approximately 1500 leased and crown-owned assets.

In alignment with the federal public service mandate, all supplier personnel (including subcontractor personnel and private sector landlord personnel) who access federal government workplaces and commercial tenants operating inside secure areas are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement entered into effect on November 15, 2021.

Publicly accessible space does not fall under the requirements of the vaccination policy.

In leased assets, the policy is applicable to federal workspaces only (approximately 1100 assets). While there is no contractual recourse for mandatory vaccination in existing lease agreements, PSPC has successfully secured almost 90% positive attestations. Outstanding attestations are being followed up.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

PSPC’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, installed, operated and maintained to meet or exceed the requirements set out in the Canada Labour Code and the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, as well as reflect the guidance on ventilation published by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and the Public Health Agency of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PSPC has implemented supplemental HVAC measures to promote occupant wellness in its buildings and facilities, related to:

• Ventilation (Increased outdoor airflow into buildings to the maximum that can be sustained by building systems without affecting comfort and asset integrity)
• Filtration (Installed the highest level of filtration that the HVAC system can accommodate while not impacting building airflow)
• Indoor temperature and humidity levels (maintain in accordance with National Joint Council (NJC) Occupational Health and Safety Directive)
• Increased hours of operation (Increased operating hours of ventilation systems before and after occupancy to flush out 95% of airborne particles.)

These supplementary measures were implemented early in the pandemic and remain aligned with current American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA), Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada guidance on ventilation.

Cleaning costs

Base building cleaning costs have increased throughout the pandemic due to augmented cleaning protocols, seeing an increase of almost 28% in the crown-owned portfolio. These costs remain manageable within existing budgets due to lower occupancies, however, as the gradual return to the workplace progresses, base building cleaning costs are expected to increase further if current cleaning levels remain.

Utility costs

While reduced occupancies may suggest lower utility costs, the reality is that utility costs have remained stable when compared to pre-pandemic values due to:

• buildings remaining open and maintenance continuing on normal schedules to avoid risks associated with building shutdowns such as water system failures, fires, mould growth, pest infestation, and other complications.
• water flushing being performed to reduce risk of stagnation and bacteria growth
• increased HVAC protocols to promote occupant wellness including increasing outdoor air, filtration levels, and hours of operation, thus impacting energy consumption savings opportunities

Parking Revenue

PSPC parking revenue has decreased by approximately 77% since the beginning of the pandemic due to the majority of the federal public service working remotely. Flexible parking arrangements have been introduced to support hybrid work arrangements.

Next steps

The department continues its engagement with central agencies, clients, industry and bargaining agents to collaborate on guidance to advance procedures for the easing of restrictions and planning a safe return to the workplace.

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