Federal centre to be built in northern New Brunswick to consolidate payroll

MIRAMICHI, N.B. – A federal centre will be built in northern New Brunswick to consolidate payroll services for the public sector, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday.

The federal payroll centre in Miramichi will provide services for 46 federal departments and agencies in an effort to save money, Harper said.

“I don’t have to tell you that this is a major step forward for Miramichi and for the region, one that will benefit generations to come,” he said.

Nearly five years ago, Harper announced the creation of a civil servant payroll centre in the city to make up for the layoff of about 200 federal workers employed at the Canadian Firearms Centre. It administered the long-gun registry before it was abolished.

About 550 people now work at two temporary payroll centre offices in Miramichi.

Construction of the new centre is expected to begin this summer with the facility available for full occupancy in late 2018, the federal government said.