Around 1,000 public servants being moved from downtown building due to ‘safety concerns’

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Amid the government’s push to bring workers back to the office three days a week, some public servants working for the Department of National Defence (DND) are being moved out of their downtown office due to “ongoing safety concerns” of working in the Cumberland and Rideau Street area.

In an email to staff in February, obtained by this newspaper, the “building senior team” said employees located at 400 Cumberland St. would be moving, with the majority going to the 11th and 12th floors of the Major-General George R. Pearkes Building at 101 Colonel By Drive.

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Others will relocate to other sites in the National Capital Region, including 455 Boulevard de la Carrière and 72 Laval St., the email stated.

The Government of Canada’s directory of federal real property, shows that Cumberland Place is partially occupied and has one tenant – National Defence. The building’s use, the website states, is for military, office, parks and recreation and warehouse, storage and workshops.

An earlier email to staff in February, also obtained by this newspaper, detailed that an employee had been “verbally and physically accosted” by a resident while on Rideau St. The note reminded staff to “remain vigilant as they travel in the area” and to stay safe by travelling in pairs and avoiding using phones or headphones “in the immediate vicinity.” It said staff should report any incidents to the Ottawa Police Service.

According to the most recent email, the move would help “address the ongoing safety concerns of working in the Cumberland and Rideau Street area of the downtown core,” with relocation plans to be staggered beginning in June.

“While there are likely those who would like to start the move sooner, the decision has been taken that we will not move until the new location is move-in ready,” the email stated. “That means that the cubicles will be standardized with regards to IT, the drops verified and that common areas have been cleaned and made ready for us to occupy.”

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The email indicated that moving to the Major-General George R. Pearkes Building would require shifting to a “hotel style of workplace.”

“The move planners will continue to engage with representatives from the projects and groups throughout the building to ensure that we receive as much information as possible and to ensure that the initial plan allows projects to be able to continue carrying out their mandates,” it said.

Cheryl Forrest, a spokesperson for DND, confirmed that approximately 1,000 staff members would be relocated, noting that safety concerns were raised by employees working out of the department’s 400 Cumberland St. offices.

“As a result of recent incidents where the safety of personnel was compromised, employees requested mitigating solutions to remedy ongoing incidents affecting staff,” Forrest said, noting that employees will move to the Major-General George R. Pearkes Building and to DND’s Carling offices.

Forrest said relocation, beginning in June, is expected to finish by October 2024.

Once the relocation is complete, Forrest said the property will be returned to Public Service and Procurement Canada.

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“It’s important to note that no other DND staff from other offices are being relocated because of these safety concerns currently,” Forrest said.

The relocation is taking place at the same time the federal government is mandating all public servants to return to the office at least three days a week, with managers asked to work on-site four days a week.

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