2 years on, construction contractor still on the job at Winnipeg police HQ

Winnipeg police headquarters is two years late, $75 million over budget and still not complete. Caspian Projects continues to work at the building to rectify minor project deficiencies and warranty work.

Problems at the building include: 

• Leaks — The city confirms there have been a few leaks and the contractor is working with the project team to investigate and correct.
• Frigid Temperatures — A room in the police academy that is so cold recruits were forced to wear jackets. The city stated it is experiencing some minor heating issues and the source of the problem is being investigated and will be addressed once the investigation is complete.

Caspian still has access to its original on-site office in the tower portion of the building at 266 Graham Ave.

The contractor's main office on McGillivray Blvd. was raided in December 2014 after a judge signed a search warrant that alleged "invoices are said to have been improperly associated to the WPS building when in fact the work was either done at other city properties, private properties or was not done at all."

The head of the city's standing committee on property and planning says he's not concerned Caspian is still working in the building, despite being the focus of an RCMP probe. 

"I understand the perception of it, but we have to protect the taxpayers' dollar. To hire the work out, to do the work for us, how much would that cost? So, I think we have to be pretty prudent on this one," John Orlikow said.

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"Caspian is being provided access to Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters Monday to Friday," the city said in an email. 

Orlikow said the remaining Caspian workers have security clearances from the Winnipeg Police Service.

"They are in a building full of police officers," Orlikow said.

The River Heights councillor admits overall, the police headquarters project has been a disaster. 

"I still feel horrible about how the whole process went. It was a project that was poorly managed and lacks the taxpayers' trust in us and I feel horrible about that," Orlikow said. 

What happened in the police headquarters project is not the only problem associated with the city's purchase of the former Canada Post building.

The city is now facing difficult choices regarding the fate of the office tower connected to the police HQ. Its facilities require millions in upgrades.

A report to be presented to the property and development committee Tuesday outlines several options. The cheapest one is to mothball the tower at the cost of $3.8 million, re-using it as city offices would require a city investment of nearly $20 million. 

Orlikow says this council is committed to dealing with the office tower problem as quickly as possible.

"I have to grab what we got and make the best of something that's horrible," Orlikow said. "The tower is not the boon that they told us it would be."

Caspian owner Armik Babakhanians was not available for comment.