May 22, 2008
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS IN NATIONAL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Ottawa - The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is pleased to announce the planned construction of a new facility for the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). CSEC, together with Defence Construction Canada (DCC), is planning the construction of a four-storey, 6000 m2 building on land acquired from the National Research Council on Ogilvie Road in Ottawa. The estimated building costs are $62M.
"A safe and secure Canada is one of the Government's top priorities and CSEC performs vital functions in safeguarding Canada's security" said the Honourable Peter MacKay. John Adams, Chief of CSEC added "The construction of this new facility will allow CSEC to continue to meet the government's intelligence requirements, while our important work will be bolstered by the creation of a purpose-built and technologically advanced work environment".
Since the events of September 11, 2001, CSEC has hired hundreds of new employees and utility demands have significantly increased over the past few years. As a result, CSEC's current campus, located in Ottawa's Confederation Heights region - is no longer able to support the agency's day-to-day operations.
The new 6000 m2 building will be located on approximately 36 hectares of land and could hold up to 250 people. A design build request for proposal for the project will be tendered late in spring 2008, with an anticipated contract to be awarded in early summer 2008. CSEC plans to occupy the building in the summer of 2011.
This new building will alleviate CSEC's immediate space and power requirements.
CSEC is Canada's national cryptologic agency. It provides the Government of Canada with two key services: foreign signals intelligence in support of defence and foreign policy and the protection of the government's electronic information and communications.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Adrian Simpson
Media relations/Public Affairs
Communications Security Establishment Canada
613-991-7248