Government Operations Committee on March 24th, 2015

[Nancy Chahwan]

Thank you very much for the question.

You are referring to the work still being done around the building, but I can assure you that the project will be completed on time. We plan to meet the deadlines. In fact, we believe that the work will be substantially complete within just a few weeks.

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

What do you mean by “just a few weeks”?

[Nancy Chahwan]

We expect everything to be finished by the end of March. By “everything”, I mean substantial construction. With this kind of a building, as with any home construction or renovation project, there is always some finishing work to be done afterwards, but the building will be substantially ready for use at the end of March.

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

The same status report from December states that the work carried out on the Wellington Building should be 70% complete. Where do things stand right now?

[Nancy Chahwan]

Thank you for the question.

According to our 2014-15 report on plans and priorities, the work should be 70% complete by March 31. I'm happy to tell you that, as of now....

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Will that be the case?

[Nancy Chahwan]

We will actually be ahead of that projection. We expect the work to be 73% complete by the end of March.

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Excellent.

My colleague brought up the security issue. You talked about screening vehicles and anything that is visible.

When it comes to work planning, are there any major elements in terms of facilities?

[Nancy Chahwan]

Yes.

Some work has already been completed, including the installation of surveillance cameras and retractable bollards, which now stand at certain entry points. We are working closely with our partners and the RCMP to ensure that design drawings for any of our future projects include specific security elements. For instance, the visitor reception centre will be completed in 2017. Its specific security elements will include camera surveillance and ballistic protection for the security posts inside.

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Great. I have two questions about the conference centre rehabilitation.

The December status report indicates that the project's detailed design would be complete—or nearly complete—by now.

Has that stage really been reached?

[Nancy Chahwan]

In terms of the design—the architectural drawings for the conference centre—we expected to be at the halfway point, and that's exactly where we are. The project is still in its infancy. It is only 10% complete.

[Denis Blanchette, NDP, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Okay.

However, as we know, that is a temporary centre, and the building belongs to the federal government.

Have plans already been made for its future use and its transformation?

[Nancy Chahwan]

There is already a plan in place. I should point out that it will not be done before 2028-2029, at the earliest. Over 95% of the money we are investing will be reused to restore the building's integrity, among other things. We expect it to remain in the Public Works and Government Services portfolio and to once again be converted to be used as a conference venue.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Thank you, Mr. Blanchette. That concludes your time.

For the Conservatives, we have Mr. Brad Butt, please.

You have five minutes, Brad.

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to both of you for being here today.

I think that what's going on around here is very exciting, in that we are wanting to preserve these assets, make them more functional and, obviously, have them open to the public, because as Mr. Kerr said very well, these buildings belong to the Canadian people and are a treasure.

I want to start by asking about the asbestos remediation program and how that is progressing. I understand that it's very delicate, specific work that is obviously for certain very specifically trained individuals. I know that the asbestos removal was a big concern in the rehabilitation of these buildings. Can you comment on how that program works in conjunction with the overall renovation and rehabilitation of the various buildings?

[Nancy Chahwan]

We take this very seriously, and we also take the health and safety of the workers on our construction sites very seriously. Before we embark on a rehabilitation project, we do what is called a “designated substance report”. Not only do we look for asbestos, but we make sure that we document every recurrence of a designated substance, including asbestos.

We make sure that the contractors we mandate are responsible for complying with all applicable legislation, whether federal or provincial, and that every worker is certified to do that kind of abatement work. We have an asbestos abatement program that has been completed for the West Block, the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, and the Wellington Building, and the removal and disposal of those materials is done in full compliance with the applicable regulations.

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

The House of Commons is due to expand by 30 additional members after the next general election. Can you comment on two aspects?

First is the renovations, because I don't believe the new chamber in the West Block will be ready to house 338 members of Parliament immediately after the next election. Can you comment on the renovation of the existing chamber to accommodate the extra 30 members and then provide details to us about the new chamber in the West Block and how we will be able to accommodate that many members within that building when it is ready? Second, can you comment on the transition period for moving from one location to the West Block in the next Parliament?

[Nancy Chahwan]

We will be ready for the 2015 election with the existing chamber. We have been working for a good period of time now with the House of Commons to design additional seats that would be on both sides of the existing chamber. What is planned right now is that the last two rows would be replaced with theatre-style seating and, of course, be equipped with the same technology and facilities the other seats have.

For the new chamber, as you mentioned, we have time to incorporate that requirement within the designs. For the transition period, we are planning this very closely with the House of Commons administration, and we plan to make the transition during the recess of 2017.

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

So when the new chamber is ready in West Block, is that going to be the only use of the West Block, or will there be additional meeting rooms? Will there be offices there, as well, or is West Block just the holdover for the chamber, for the House of Commons, while we're waiting for Centre Block to be redone and obviously have everybody back here in whatever year that will happen? I know we're going to go for a tour and you're probably going to point it out to us, but just so it's on the record, I think it would be nice to know exactly what will be going on in the West Block building.

[Nancy Chahwan]

I will ask Ezio to answer.

[Ezio DiMillo]

Mr. Chair, of course the chamber will be located in the West Block. It will also contain four full committee rooms, as well as all of the back of House spaces that are required for a building of this nature, including shipping and receiving, etc., as well as a number of offices of members of Parliament.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

That actually wraps up your time.

[Brad Butt, Conservative, Mississauga—Streetsville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

You used it very well.

Next is the second vice-chair for the Liberal Party, Mr. Gerry Byrne.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thank you to our witnesses for appearing before us.

This is not a small project whatsoever. It's a multi-year project. Would you be able to remind the committee, just to put some context to this, of what the budget is? Just remind the committee what the people of Canada have spent on this on an annual basis over the last, say, five years.