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Ratification des revendications monétaires de la troisième convention collective

February 6, 2023

To all users of the Stewart Biological Sciences Building,

Extreme temperatures over the weekend caused water pipes to burst in the Stewart Biological Sciences Building. Please do not report to this pavilion this morning; we are working to remove the water and secure the premises in anticipation of your return.

• Classes: Classes that were scheduled to take place in this pavilion before 12:30 p.m. today will be held online whenever possible. Classes that can only take place face-to-face will unfortunately be cancelled.
• Teaching staff and other personnel: The teachers and the administrative and support staff stationed in this pavilion are asked to work remotely this morning, unless their superior deems their presence necessary and can offer them a another place to do their work. Staff who cannot perform their duties remotely will be compensated for the period they were unable to work on site.

I will keep you informed of the evolution of the situation.

Thank you,

Pierre Barbarie
Senior Director, Protection and Prevention Branch, on behalf of the Emergency Operations Center

January 31, 2023

Dear members of the McGill community:

The Raymond, Macdonald-Stewart and Barton buildings on McGill’s Macdonald campus will be closed effective immediately. The buildings are expected to remain closed for the next two days.

Testing today revealed the presence of asbestos in wipe tests on certain surfaces in the Raymond Building, which is currently undergoing renovation. Extensive testing will be conducted over the next few days to find and isolate the source of the problem. The Macdonald-Stewart and Barton buildings, while not under construction, are being closed out of an abundance of caution while testing is conducted.

• Classes: Classes in these buildings that are scheduled in the next two days will move online where feasible. Classes that cannot be moved online unfortunately will need to be cancelled. Instructors are asked to let students know as soon as feasible whether the course will be delivered online.
• Research activities: Only research personnel who need to care for animals or maintain live cell cultures and plants will be allowed to enter the buildings. To gain access to the buildings for essential research activities, you must email emergency.mgmt@mcgill.ca so that arrangements can be made for appropriate PPE.
• Access for staff: Academic, administrative and support staff working in the Raymond, Barton or Macdonald-Stewart buildings must work from home until Friday morning, unless their supervisor requests their presence and can arrange an alternative on-site location. Staff who cannot perform their duties at home will be paid for the days they cannot come into work.

We know that this news may raise concerns, and we are taking the problem very seriously. There are strict standards in place to manage renovations in buildings containing asbestos. Asbestos abatement was performed in an earlier phase of renovation in the Raymond Building and earlier testing conducted in Raymond was negative. The air ventilation systems of the Raymond, Barton and Macdonald-Stewart Buildings are not connected, but there are passageways between the buildings.

More information on asbestos and health can be found on the websites for the Government of Quebec or the CNESST.

We will update the community as to test results and what is being done to fix the issue as soon as information becomes available, as well as firmer timelines on when buildings are expected to re-open.

Sincerely,

Pierre Barbarie

Director (Campus Public Safety) on behalf of the Emergency Operations Committee