Ontario Construction News
Pomerleau Inc. has been awarded a $121.6-million contract to construct a new Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) facility in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The construction award follows an approximately $8.8-million design contract awarded to Moriyama & Teshima Architects on Nov. 30, 2023.
The new Crown-owned facility will be built at 80 Kelsey Drive with modern, accessible and purpose-built space for CRA employees and operations in the region. Construction is expected to begin this summer, with completion targeted for 2029.
The project will replace the existing CRA Data Tax Centre at 290 Empire Avenue, a facility constructed in 1980 that the federal government says has reached the end of its expected life. The existing property will ultimately be disposed of through standard federal processes.
CRA operations, including the agency’s National Verification and Collections Centre and Tax Services Office will be located on site. Previous federal project information showed the facility will need to accommodate a workforce that can reach approximately 3,000 employees during peak tax-filing periods.
The project is also being designed around the federal government’s environmental objectives. It aligns with the Greening Government Strategy and is targeting low-carbon and climate-resilient building performance.
Construction procurement was carried out through a pre-qualification process. Public Services and Procurement Canada issued a request for proposals to five pre-qualified suppliers selected through an earlier Invitation to Qualify process.
The contract also incorporates the federal government’s new policies prioritizing Canadian suppliers, Canadian value-added content and Canadian materials in strategic federal procurement. The policies came into effect Dec. 16, 2025.
“With this investment in St. John’s, we are making a clear choice: investing in our public services, supporting local jobs, and putting Canadian businesses to work,” said Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement. “By modernizing Canada Revenue Agency facilities and prioritizing Canadian suppliers and materials, we are building a stronger economy while delivering better services for Canadians.”
The Kelsey Drive site was selected through an open process in April 2022, with the federal government completing its purchase of the property in October 2023.
With Pomerleau now under contract, construction is expected to proceed this summer, launching a three-year build that will deliver a new federal workplace while replacing an aging CRA facility in the city.
