Taxpayers spent $537 million upgrading NDHQ Carling but it’s listed as being in poor condition
David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen
Updated: February 3, 2020
The new Defence department headquarters at Carling Avenue has been listed in the federal government’s building directory as being in poor shape.
More than a quarter of all federally owned, leased or licensed buildings in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, including many landmark downtown buildings, are in critical or poor condition, according to the government’s own assessment. Facilities listed in poor condition in this latest federal report include almost all of the buildings at National Defence Headquarters’ Carling Campus location.
The buildings are listed in the Treasury Board Secretariat’s Directory of Federal Real Property which outlines the condition of federal facilities. According to the Treasury Board Secretariat, a designation of poor indicates that, “Some or all asset systems are compromised or show serious signs of deterioration. Risk of some systems failure is likely, with high O&M costs and unplanned maintenance and repairs.”
The inclusion of National Defence Headquarters (Carling) has prompted questions, particularly since taxpayers have in the last couple of years spent $537 million upgrading and refitting the buildings at that location.
So why was NDHQ Carling put on the latest Treasury Board list?
The federal government won’t answer that question. But Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) says there is no cause for concern.
“The Carling Campus buildings are in excellent condition and safe for employees and building occupants,” Procurement Canada spokesman Marc-Andre Charbonneau told Defence Watch. “Carling Campus is not currently on PSPC’s list of assets in critical condition. We will work with TBS (Treasury Board Secretariat) to ensure that this is reflected in the Directory of Federal Real Property list.”
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/...ut-its-listed-as-being-in-poor-condition
Threaded Mode