Federal government seeking interest in Paul Martin Building

The federal government wants to know if the private sector is interested in the Paul Martin building located in downtown Windsor.

Public Works and Government Services Canada listed the heritage building on its website, and has issued a request for information, or RFI. 

"PWGSC is seeking industry feedback in response to the draft Request for Information for the long-term accommodation requirements of our client, the Canada Revenue Agency, in Windsor, as well as the future use or disposal of the building," said Annie Trepanier, a spokesperson for PWSSC, in an email. 

Mayor Eddie Francis said he wasn't surprised.

"I don't know (the federal government's) process. I don't know what the next steps are. I just know what I've seen and what I've read. Basically what I've expected is for them to put it on the market. This is the equivalent of the federal government putting it on the market," said Francis.

The city had a plan to acquire the building from Ottawa and then move the University of Windsor law school there. 

Francis shut the door on any further involvement with the building.

"We've moved on," he said.

Meanwhile, Windsor West MP Brian Masse said the federal government's treatment of the heritage building is shocking.

"I see this as nothing more than a fishing expedition. They're just fishing to see if anybody in the market is open to working with the building. And it's really going to depend on what they want to sell it for," said Masse.

The Paul Martin building was built in 1932.

In 1994, it was renamed in honour of Paul Martin Sr, a Windsor Member of Parliament for 33 years.

Paul Martin Jr., the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, is the son of the man for whom that downtown building was named.

"It's inconceivable to me, the Government of Canada, as the owner of the building would allow it to simply stand there with scaffolding like that, on what is essentially one of Canada's most important city's main streets," Martin said.