May 31, 2006

Federal labs, science buildings crumbling: report

OTTAWA

Federal laboratories and other science buildings across the country are crumbling, threatening experiments and programs, says an internal audit for Natural Resources Canada.

“It is evident that if NRCan does not take action rapidly on these issues, the deterioration of its real property will accelerate and the delivery of the department’s core science program in the regions could be jeopardized,” says the Jan. 26 report, obtained under the Access to Information Act.

“The risk of major breakdowns will likely increase, with the resultant likelihood of closure of all or parts of facilities, interruption of research projects, and lost data.”

The report investigated the condition of some 125 buildings that Natural Resources owns outside Ottawa — about 55 per cent of its real-estate portfolio — including an experimental mine facility in Val d’Or, Que., the Great Lakes Forestry Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and staff accommodations in Resolute, Nunavut.

Many of the properties are more than 30 years old, and most are falling apart.

“The department is not managing its regional real property efficiently and effectively,” concludes the study, based on site visits and interviews. “Decision-making processes are reactive, and focused on imminent or actual failures. In several local facilities/properties, this is happening now.”

The authors noted that some managers of poorly funded buildings are “cannibalizing” parts their properties to keep other parts open, and “some lab managers have indicated that parts of their labs will soon be sealed off as unfit.”

The problems stem from chronic capital underfunding, says the audit report.

Natural Resources set aside just $7.7 million for all capital projects in 2005-2006 when it needed to spend between $27 million and $43 million, the audit indicates.

And projected capital spending for this year and next will fall to $2.7 million, making the situation worse.

The auditors recommend examining all property holdings with a view to shutting down, sharing and consolidating buildings to deal with the capital cash crunch.

“There are no buildings that will be closed as a result of this audit,” Natural Resources spokesman Ghyslain Charron said.

He added that the department had already recognized the problems even before the audit report and plans to ask federal cabinet for more money to repair and refurbish regional facilities.

“We are preparing a submission to Treasury Board to obtain more dollars for the regions, and we do hope to obtain money,” he said. “But at this moment, it’s not clear.”

CANADIAN PRESS

Print | Email | Comment