Bedbug confirmed in sixth federal government office tower

Bedbugs have invaded another federal government building in downtown Ottawa.

Employees at Fisheries and Oceans Canada were notified Wednesday that an insect, found on the 13th floor of 200 Kent Street, has been positively identified as a bedbug by pest management experts at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

“We are working with PSPC pest management experts who will be performing a canine inspection before determining the extent of the issue,” employees were told in an email shared with the Citizen.

“Depending on the advice of the pest management experts from PSPC, a full treatment of the affected area may be required. Elements of the treatment could include vacuuming, steaming and other measures. Whenever possible, treatments are done after hours to minimize the impact on employees.”

Federal employees in the building were told to report to work as usual while the extent of the problem was determined.

The notice reminded employees that “early reporting remains the cornerstone of effective management of any pest,” and encouraged them to contact the national service call centre if they suspect bedbugs in their workplace.

The glass and steel building at 200 Kent St. is also home to offices of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Tax Court of Canada.

It is the sixth federal office building in the capital to report an issue with bedbugs in recent weeks. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has called on the government to use sniffer dogs to check all federal office buildings and introduce training for workers so they can identify the insects.

“This is a serious health and safety issue affecting workers and the government needs to take proactive measures to eradicate bedbugs in all federal buildings,” Eddy Bourque, national president of the Canada Employment and Immigration Union, said last week. aduffy@postmedia.com