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Swan said there are ways to avoid disruption, including working in the evenings and during the Senate’s summer break.

But delaying the $167-million project could cause a bigger headache: costs could rise by millions, said one source. Expert workers may also be forced to pack up and seek steadier work elsewhere.

Public Services and Procurement Canada confirmed this week it put some plans for East Block renovations “on hold” in April, “to re-evaluate the implementation of the work and its sequencing.”

Work to restore the “most deteriorated elements” of the East Block, mainly around building entrances, is proceeding, said spokesman Pierre-Alain Bujold, but the short-term scope of repairs has been “reduced.”

“As part of any rehabilitation project, the impact on occupants is considered,” he said. “The Senate of Canada has requested that project impacts be limited while the building remains occupied.”

Sen. Scott Tannas, who chairs the responsible Senate subcommittee, said senators asked repairs “be limited to those that are urgent, as opposed to a total exterior restoration, while senators are still occupying the building.”

This is a “logical consequence” of the upper chamber’s “initiative” to move down the street in 2018 while the Centre Block is being restored, Tannas said. He added the British parliament is looking at conducting renovations in a similar way.

The original plan for Parliament Hill would leave no gaps in construction. After the West Block was finished later this year, work on the exterior of the East Block was due to start. The focus would be on walls in the interior courtyard during 2017, to avoid disrupting Canada 150 celebrations.