The Canada Border Services Agency has abandoned plans to move about 1,200 public servants from a Vanier office tower to a building downtown.
Background of the Proposed Move
Last summer, the agency considered a proposal from Public Services and Procurement Canada that would have moved employees working in Tower B at Place Vanier on North River Road to 300 Slater St. by April 2027, according to documents obtained through an access-to-information request. The move was intended to help the government cut its overall office portfolio in half. PSPC set aside $3 million for the relocation, which would have saved the government $16 million over five years once completed.
Space and Employee Appeal
The new site would have provided 1,100 workstations for the 1,200 employees, sufficient under a three-day-per-week office mandate. The proposal highlighted benefits such as access to public transit, restaurants, and other downtown services, describing the move as a win-win for both PSPC and CBSA. Directors general planned to meet with impacted staff in November 2025, with the move scheduled over 20 months.
Reversal Due to Policy Change
However, the federal government later announced that most public servants would be required to work in offices four days a week starting July, up from three days. This change led CBSA to reconsider. Rebecca Purdy, spokesperson for the CBSA, confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen that the department is no longer moving employees from 333 Norther River Road to 300 Slater St. Purdy did not elaborate on the reasons for scrapping the move.
Impact of Four-Day Mandate
The Treasury Board made the announcement in February, changing its remote work policy. In addition to the four-day requirement for most public servants, executives have been required to be in offices full-time as of May 4. The controversial mandate has left some departments scrambling for office space, but CBSA stated it will have enough desks for all employees and will implement the four-day return on July 6.
The October 2025 document also mentioned a preliminary timeline for decommissioning and releasing 355 North River Road. PSPC did not provide comment before deadline.
