Question Period Note: Status update on asbestos management at the Guy-Favreau Complex

A former federal employee has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the second such case in weeks linked to Montreal's Guy-Favreau Complex, which, although no link has been established in the workplace, raises concerns about potential workplace exposure despite assurances that asbestos-related risks in the building are properly managed.

• Public Services and Procurement Canada applies rigorous asbestos management practices, including the inventory and monitoring of materials, as well as the implementation of control measures during work that may affect asbestos in place
  • The most recent asbestos inspection at the Guy-Favreau Complex was conducted in January 2026. In addition, 81 air quality samples were collected to cover all areas of the building, and no asbestos fibres were detected during the analyses
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada remains committed to acting with caution, transparency, and diligence, in collaboration with tenant departments and relevant partners, to ensure safe workplaces

Asbestos was widely used in the construction of institutional buildings in Canada until the 1990s. In Quebec, more than 3,700 public buildings still contain asbestos. Health risks are primarily associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres when materials are deteriorated or disturbed without appropriate control measures.

In Quebec, asbestos-related diseases are subject to mandatory notification. Any physician making such diagnosis is required to report it to Quebec public health authorities. A standard process is then automatically initiated whereby public health authorities notify all employers where the individual has worked throughout their career. For federally regulated employers, this information is shared with the Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which then conducts an investigation in accordance with the Canada Labour Code to ensure that all applicable health and safety requirements are being met.

In accordance with the Departmental Policy on Asbestos Management (DP 057), asbestos management measures have been in place at the Guy‑Favreau Complex (GFC) since 1997, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as the contractual obligations between Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the real estate contractor responsible for the building. These measures include material characterization, record‑keeping, periodic assessments of material conditions, and the application of strict protocols during work likely to disturb affected materials.

The presence of asbestos‑containing materials in the building is limited, well documented, and subject to strict management to ensure that the materials remain in good condition—including through annual inspections—and that no fibres are released into the air. Although not required, PSPC proactively, and as a precautionary measure, conducted a comprehensive series of air tests throughout the building to detect the presence of asbestos fibres. The most recent asbestos inspection at the GFC was carried out in January 2026 and contributed to the update of the Asbestos Management Plan completed in March 2026. A total of 81 samples were collected to cover all areas of the building. No asbestos fibres were detected in any of the tests, all of which were carried out in accordance with applicable standards. The reports are accessible to employer representatives at all times through various portals, and PSPC also provides access to these documents to unions upon request.

The presence of asbestos in a building does not constitute a health risk when asbestos-containing materials—or materials suspected of containing asbestos—are in good condition and managed in accordance with applicable standards, which is the case at the GFC, as was recently reiterated by the Employment and Social Development Canada investigator in the course of her investigation.

• The Guy‑Favreau Complex is a building constructed in 1983, located at 200 René‑Lévesque Boulevard West in Montréal, which accommodates more than 4,000 federal employees
  • In accordance with the Departmental Policy on Asbestos Management, asbestos management measures have been in place at the Guy-Favreau Complex since 1997. The most recent update to the building’s Asbestos Management Plan was completed in March 2026
  • The investigation recently conducted by the Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada, reiterated that the risk of asbestos exposure at the Guy-Favreau Complex is controlled and that the workplace is safe and healthy