Ottawa still seeks home for Canada Revenue Agency in Windsor
The Government of Canada says there are parties interested in either buying the Paul Martin Building in downtown Windsor or willing to be a landlord to the Canada Revenue Agency elsewhere in Windsor.
The federal government is looking to sell the heritage building, which is home to Canada Revenue Agency offices.
Public Works and Government Services Canada had listed the heritage building for sale and lease on its website in June.
It was seeking expressions of interest from local companies to either house the current occupants within the building, which could include an option for the government to lease space there, or an option for a developer to purchase the building.
"The RFI was with regard to the availability of space for lease in Windsor and the sale of 185 Ouellette Ave.," Annie Trepanier, a spokesperson for PWGSC said in an email. "We received 19 responses to that request for information. We are reviewing industry feedback and considering options. A decision will be made in due course."
Last fall, the government learned the condition of the building was in need of heavy repairs.
"The building was deteriorating for many years now. We just did not know how bad it was until we have been able to find out from a report from an engineer's firm that the situation was worse than what was known by the local authorities," Marc Briere, the national vice-president of the Union of Taxation Employees said.
"I'm just shocked that the information was not divulged before. We are still very furious with public works for not coming forward," Briere said.
Brier says nearly 200 Canadian Revenue Agency employees should be working in the building.
Centrepiece for downtown
Newly elected Ward 3 councillor Rino Bortolin would like to see the building repaired as soon as possible.
"We already have an issue with not enough people downtown and we don't need more people leaving the downtown core," he said.
"The frustrating part is how the federal government has been both very quiet and very hard to get information about on this. It would be nice to see the federal government step up to the plate to find this a priority."
Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West says the building is a "lost opportunity."
"It's a building that's got historic prominence in our city. Even the sidewalk is closed ... despite the scaffolding," he said.
"It's totally unacceptable because you can't even go underneath the protective element for it ... so what does that say? I mean ... it's terribly frustrating," Masse said.
The MP says he is hoping to make the building an election issue.
"We see them, the federal government getting away with not having to follow the property by-laws that other citizens and businesses have to do. It's basically a loophole in the system that allows them to degrade their own buildings."
The Paul Martin building was built in 1932.
In 1994, it was renamed in honour of Paul Martin Sr, a Windsor Member of Parliament for 33 years.
Paul Martin Jr., the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, is the son of the man for whom that downtown building was named.
Correction : A previous version of this story said there were 19 potential buyers interested in the building. In fact, the 19 expressions of interest are about the availability of space for lease in Windsor and the sale of 185 Ouellette Ave.(Dec 31, 2014 1:07 PM)
