VANCOUVER — There’s a rat in Vancouver’s Provincial Courthouse. And a lot of bedbugs and mice too.
The association that represents B.C.’s prosecutors says the government isn’t doing enough to deal with an infestation of vermin in the aging building on Main Street.
Steve Fudge, president of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association, said the problem with the bedbugs in courtrooms and Crown counsel offices goes back quite some time.
But about a year ago, employees in the building noticed that the infestation was getting worse.
In response to complaints, officials increased the number of inspections for bedbugs to twice a month from once a month. Heat and steam treatments were used in an attempt to eradicate the bedbugs.
Then in November, as the cold season began, employees began to notice more and more signs of mice — nests and mice feces in their offices — as the creatures sought out a warmer environment.
In mid-December, a rat was spotted in the offices that house nearly 75 prosecutors. Traps were put out and a suspected point of entry was plugged.
Fudge said not enough is being done by the company contracted to provide cleaning in the building, perhaps due to an inadequate maintenance budget.
