'Out of service': Public servants suffer 'ongoing' elevator breakdowns at NRCan office tower

On Oct. 14, 11 public servants were stuck inside an elevator for "approximately 20 minutes." Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Broken elevators have plagued a Natural Resources Canada building on Booth Street for months just as public servants have been forced to increase their in-office presence.

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The building at 580 Booth St. has faced “on-going elevator disruptions,” which have been “a source of concern and frustration for employees,” according to an internal email obtained by the Ottawa Citizen. The situation has become so bad that some public servants working at the building have been stuck in an elevator on at least one occasion, and there have been periods of time when only two of the 21-storey building’s four high-rise elevators have worked.

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“We apologize for the inconvenience and recognize that the continued disruptions present a real challenge,” Francis Brisson, an assistant deputy minister at NRCan, said in a Sept. 23 email to staff.

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In the email, Brisson acknowledged ongoing issues with the elevators and said specialized contractors were working to assess “affected equipment” and to complete repairs.

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He noted that the elevators’ performance would be monitored and “additional measures” would be taken if wait times for employees exceeded three minutes.

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“As Senior Building Officer, I am confident that Public Services and Procurement Canada has taken every precaution to ensure the elevators are safe,” he said in the email.

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He added that there would be “reduced service” until at least “mid-October.”

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Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the federal department that acts as the government’s property manager, confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen that 11 public servants were trapped in one of the building’s elevators for “approximately 20 minutes” on Oct. 14.

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“The maintenance team responded promptly, and all occupants were safely released,” Michèle LaRose, PSPC spokesperson, said in an email statement.

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PSPC confirmed 11 public servants were trapped inside an elevator for about 20 minutes on Oct. 14. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Despite the incident, LaRose said that elevators at 580 Booth St. “meet applicable safety requirements and remain safe to operate,” while also receiving regular inspections and maintenance.

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“While service interruptions may continue to occur, PSPC will ensure the continued safety of building occupants,” LaRose said, adding that the “use of stairs remains voluntary for those who choose to do so” and that the department works with employees with accessibility issues on “practical alternatives” when elevators didn’t work.

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On Oct. 15, the Ottawa Citizen spoke to 10 public servants who confirmed ongoing elevator disruptions at 580 Booth St. Internal records also show that the elevators in the 21-storey building have been an issue since at least February.

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The elevator issues have lingered as the federal government increased the number of days most public servants have to work in offices this summer. Most employees have to work on-site for four days a week, while executives are now back in the office full-time.

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Some departments have had to delay implementing the new policy as they’ve lacked the necessary office space to accommodate all their staff.