Ottawa wants to offload this office building. Nova Scotia wants it to house the homeless

The federal government has initiated a building disposal process that could potentially see a vacant 61,000-square-foot office building in Dartmouth, N.S., turned into housing for homeless people.

The Marine House building on Portland Street was formerly home to offices of the Canadian Coast Guard and then the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, but has been sitting unoccupied for years. 

As the provincial government grapples with how to best support more than 100 people sleeping in encampments in Halifax, the minister in charge of homelessness says he's been in talks with the federal housing minister for over a year about the Marine House building. 

The province wants to see it turned into housing. 

"This is a spot that's empty, it's a place where with some investment we could easily have housing that's secure and, quite frankly, would do a great job," Community Services Minister Brendan Maguire said in a recent interview. 

"We could potentially house every single person that's living in an encampment in that building."

The seven-storey Marine House building was built in 1984. According to a directory of federal property, it is in "critical" condition. 

Maguire said the province "needs this," and would even take the building on a temporary basis to house people over the winter, but "can't get a commitment from the federal government."

The disposal of federal property can encompass a sale, gift or transfer of administration and control. Maguire didn't say if the province intends to pay for the building. 

Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser's office would not provide an update on the discussions with Maguire, saying the building falls under the purview of Public Services and Procurement Canada.

A spokesperson for that department said the disposal process has been initiated for Marine House and there are specific steps to follow with real estate. 

"Each property requires different levels of engagement and consultation," said spokesperson Jullian Paquin in an email, adding that includes ensuring Indigenous rights are recognized. 

Paquin said consultations are underway with Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn, a group that negotiates on behalf of Mi'kmaw chiefs in discussions with the province and the federal government.

Public Services and Procurement Canada did not provide a response over several days about when the disposal process was initiated, if the intent of the disposal is to provide the building to the province, what step comes after consulting with the Mi'kmaq and how long this process is expected to take.