OTTAWA– Hundreds of government workers have been forced to work from home after bed bugs were discovered on all the floors in their building. The employees work for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on the Quebec side. Almost the entire building has been shut down, all except several employees working on the sixth floor. They're working with sensitive information and say they can't take their work home with them. But they're certainly worried now about taking bed bugs home with them.
While the rest of the building remains virtually empty, several employees have to remain at work, trying to find a way to avoid being at their desks. Hamze Mansour has chosen a spot on a picnic table beside the building,
“We’re outside, trying to stay away from the bed bugs,” he says, “at least as much as we can.”
Because of the nature of their work, they say they can’t work from home but don’t want to be here.
“I’ve been standing up, walking around,” says IRCC employee Marisa Alberelli, “avoiding as much as possible.”
What we know is that bed bugs were discovered on one floor of this building last week. A canine unit was brought in over the weekend and the company found bed bugs on every single floor of the building at 70 Crémazie. That's when the government decided that most of the building would be shut down and employees were advised to telework or find alternate arrangements.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (SPAC) tells CTV Ottawa, it takes the health and safety of it's employees seriously.
"The presence of bed bugs had been a localised issue at 70 Crémazie until recently," said Stefanie Hamel, a spokesperson for SPAC.
Because of the nature of their work, they say they can’t work from home but don’t want to be here.
“I’ve been standing up, walking around,” says IRCC employee Marisa Alberelli, “avoiding as much as possible.”
.
While the rest of the building remains virtually empty, several employees have to remain at work, trying to find a way to avoid being at their desks. Hamze Mansour has chosen a spot on a picnic table beside the building,
“We’re outside, trying to stay away from the bed bugs,” he says, “at least as much as we can.”
Because of the nature of their work, they say they can’t work from home but don’t want to be here.
“I’ve been standing up, walking around,” says IRCC employee Marisa Alberelli, “avoiding as much as possible.”
What we know is that bed bugs were discovered on one floor of this building last week. A canine unit was brought in over the weekend and the company found bed bugs on every single floor of the building at 70 Crémazie. That's when the government decided that most of the building would be shut down and employees were advised to telework or find alternate arrangements.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (SPAC) tells CTV Ottawa, it takes the health and safety of it's employees seriously.
"The presence of bed bugs had been a localised issue at 70 Crémazie until recently," said Stefanie Hamel, a spokesperson for SPAC.
Because of the nature of their work, they say they can’t work from home but don’t want to be here.
“I’ve been standing up, walking around,” says IRCC employee Marisa Alberelli, “avoiding as much as possible.”
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