Inuvik (Feb 13/06) - After a leased government office building in Inuvik was declared unsafe, Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Robert McLeod said he wants to know why it took months for a structural engineer to issue a report on the building.

On Feb. 7, the Perry Building was closed by order of the fire marshal and all 57 employees were asked to vacate the premises by noon that day.

"Based on a preliminary report from a structural engineer, we're not satisfied that it's safe for occupancy," said Mike Aumond, acting deputy minister of public works in Yellowknife, noting a final report was expected in "a day or two."

Aumond said structural engineers who evaluated the building questioned its ability to hold certain loads.

Built in the 1970s and leased from Perry Buildings Ltd. out of Edmonton by the GNWT since its construction, offices of Education, Culture and Employment, Public Works and Services and the Financial Management Board Secretariat are located there. Aumond says every effort is being made to find alternate office space.

In the legislative assembly last week, McLeod said cracks in the building were first noticed in July 2005.

After that, stone roofing was replaced to lighten the load. When more cracks were noticed, a structural engineer was hired in October to examine the building. That report was filed with Public Works this month.

"I would like to know why it took so long for the structural engineer to come back to DPW and, meanwhile, the employees are working in potentially unsafe conditions," said McLeod.

Public Works minister Floyd Roland said he wasn't sure of why the report was only sent to his staff in February, but said steps are being taken to improve government inspections.

"The issue of how we deal with our own inspections and so on is something that we have started to take a look at," said Roland.

"In fact they are trying to beef up that side within the department around the risk side of the equation when we look at our facilities and assets."

- with files from Jason Unrau