While a four-story building with an area of 18,054 square meters was announced, it appeared that the size of the building was reduced without consulting workers.
“When we went on strike, in mid-April, I learned from very, very reliable sources that the government building, the new CNVR, would be downsized,” reports Mr. Nobert immediately.
“I have since also learned that certain areas of the building could not be completed at the time of delivery,” he continues, without hiding his frustration at these changes, which are causing concern among employees.
What Julien Nobert also denounces is the fact that Minister François-Philippe Champagne has confirmed in recent months that the construction of the building would go ahead as planned.
“I feel like we’ve been lied to. Because even during the strike, I have people from my union team who met François-Philippe Champagne. They demonstrated in front of his office, he finally went there and assured them that the building would be as it was presented,” the union leader drops, not without hiding his frustration.
“There is still uncertainty. Every time we play with the rest of us, my world gets tanned, and myself first.
— Julien Nobert, local tax union president
To confirm what he was told that the building will have one floor less, he clarifies that work on the roof is already quite advanced.
“It’s changing, and that’s where they put the sheet metal on the roof. So there is practically only the ground floor and two floors. So he can’t really escape from there,” points out Mr. Nobert and asks the Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry for explanations.
“You have to understand that the square meter advertised, which is four floors, corresponded to the current CNVR. We’re reducing it there, but we’re also saying that Service Canada employees who are currently in the downtown processing center will be moved back to that building.”
“So we’re reducing it, but we’re bringing back more duties,” the president said.
When Le Nouvelliste met Shawinigan Mayor Michel Angers on Monday night, he had practically only just been briefed, with no further details of the situation. “I wasn’t aware of that,” he said.
“Teleworking has probably changed things a lot. I don’t know if they still telecommute, but let’s say they’ve increased telecommuting enormously,” the first judge said, nevertheless, as a possible rationale for these changes.
When asked about the commitments that the federal government had made in the 2021 elections – i.e. in a time after the pandemic – the mayor replied: “We will see what they will give as such.”
He also reports that services could be brought back to this new center. “What I’ve also heard is that services that are elsewhere are likely to return to that federal building there?” It’s possible that’s the case,” concludes Michel Angers.
Telework in question?
The right to telework is also raised by Julien Nobert, who points out that it is not part of the collective agreement. You should know that 2000 employees are attached to this center.
“We are promised a great building that will revolutionize the federal housing stock. We’re told it’s a teleworking obligation, but on the other hand, what we just signed isn’t even in the collective agreement, it’s a letter of consent,” explains the President.
“The regulation passed at the end of December, i.e. two days of attendance per week in the office, remains, and now it is a declaration of consent that ends when the collective agreement expires.” It is therefore not agreed to grant the right to telework.
Is sustainability at stake?
These new dimensions raise questions about the sustainability of jobs, which have been at the center of demands for several years. Mr. Champagne had also stated in July 2021 that “the control center will remain at Shawinigan forever, no matter what happens.” It is irrevocable.”
Recall that the minister made the tax center his priorities in the 2021 election, while a single Quebec-required tax return surfaced. However, today it is difficult for the union not to worry.
“We can wonder about the cost overrun, then they tightened their belts… Any ideas to reduce the size of the state?” I’m not ruling anything out. There are certain concerns, we ask François-Philippe Champagne what’s going on, no answer.
Le Nouvelliste tried to reach the MP for Saint-Maurice-Champlain on Monday evening but received no reply.
“When it’s time to make announcements with great fanfare, to visit us at the election to get our votes, they’re always there. There are questions, people worry, not a word is said, there is complete radio silence.
In collaboration with Sebastien Houle