Single Bedbug Discovery in Ottawa Government Building Follows Four-Day Office Mandate
The federal government has confirmed that a single bedbug was discovered in an Ottawa office building housing Canada Revenue Agency and Canada Border Services Agency staff, mere days after public servants received orders to return to office four days weekly starting in July.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
Public Services and Procurement Canada, the department responsible for managing federal office spaces, reported that the bedbug was found at the Willet Building on Gladwin Crescent in Ottawa on February 10. The building is located near St. Laurent Boulevard and Innes Road and accommodates approximately 200 to 315 public servants from both the CRA and CBSA.
Nicole Allen, a PSPC spokesperson, stated that the department took "appropriate measures to quickly address the situation," which included treatment of the affected area on the evening of February 12. Allen emphasized that "this is an isolated incident and does not constitute an outbreak or infestation." She acknowledged that while concerning, pests are unfortunately common in commercial real estate environments.
Timing Amid Return-to-Office Controversy
The discovery comes at a sensitive time for federal public servants, who were informed on February 5 that they would be required to work in-office four days per week starting in July, with executives facing a five-day requirement beginning in May. This represents an extension from previous return-to-office policies implemented in September 2024, which mandated three days weekly for staff and four days for executives following pandemic-era remote work arrangements.
The announcement of the extended office requirement arrived just weeks after thousands of federal workers received notices about potential job losses as part of a government spending review, adding to workplace tensions.
Union Response and Workplace Concerns
Marc Brière, president of the Union of Taxation Employees, confirmed that the facility was properly treated and the issue resolved, noting that the employer "followed protocol" after discovering the bedbug. However, Brière expressed significant frustration with how the extended return-to-office order was communicated, revealing that he learned about the new policy only 15 minutes before it was announced to his membership, which he characterized as "disrespectful."
Brière reported that union members are particularly upset given that the UTE remains in bargaining negotiations with the federal government, with remote work arrangements being one of their top priorities. "I would say that people are really pissed off," he stated, highlighting the timing of the office mandate announcement during active contract discussions.
Resolution and Follow-up Measures
PSPC confirmed that workers were permitted to return to the workplace the morning following the February 12 treatment, with follow-up inspections scheduled for the subsequent week. Allen stressed the importance of early reporting for such incidents and emphasized that proper protocols were followed to ensure workplace safety and hygiene.
The incident serves as an unwelcome development for public servants adjusting to increased office requirements while navigating broader concerns about job security and working conditions within the federal public service.
