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Towers A1 and A2 at Place du Portage III in Gatineau were closed Thursday due to what Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) called “a possible asbestos disturbance.”
Alexandre Baillairgé-Charbonneau, a spokesperson for PSPC, said the government department was informed of the possible presence of asbestos at a worksite in the building on Wednesday night.
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“The health and safety of Place du Portage III employees and occupants remain our main priority,” Baillairgé-Charbonneau said. “Out of an abundance of caution, Place du Portage III Tower A1 and A2 will be closed (Thursday) while testing is carried out.”
Baillairgé-Charbonneau said additional details would be shared as soon as they become available.
Dozens of workers wearing construction vests walked in and around the building on Thursday, with signs taped on entrance doors to the building, informing occupants of the two towers’ closure.
The message indicated that facilities management company BGIS informed PSPC of the possible presence of asbestos and that the towers were closed while testing was being conducted.
“Employees are invited to reserve another workspace through the Archibus booking system or work remotely for the day,” the note read. “We ask managers to exercise maximum flexibility with members of our teams that are affected by this situation.”
“We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.”
A December 2022 document offering a “national asbestos inventory” of all PSPC-owned buildings and PSPC-managed leases, lists the Crown-owned Place du Portage Phase III building as having a known presence of asbestos, with a management plan in place.
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