Departments jockey for ex-CSEC quarters
Vacancies spark interest from multiple government organizations
Federal government departments are jockeying to take over Ottawa buildings once occupied by Canada’s electronic spies, but such a move could cost as much as $400 million, according to documents obtained by the Citizen.
The two buildings, Edward Drake and Sir Leonard Tilley, were used by the Communications Security Establishment, but that spy organization has since moved into a brand new complex on Ogilvie Road.
That move freed up the organization’s buildings, known as the Confederation Heights Campus, at the corners of Riverside, Bronson and Heron.
It also sparked interest from a number of federal organizations to take over the former CSE facilities.
The Department of National Defence was keen to acquire the buildings to establish what it described as a centre for “intelligence enabled military operations,” according to January 2014 documents obtained by the Citizen.
DND officials pointed out that the security features of the buildings, including specialized shielding to prevent eavesdropping from outside, would allow it to save money instead of having to invest in that type of protection in another location.
“There could be cost avoidance and savings for the Crown in re-using existing secure infrastructure in these buildings,” DND officials noted.
But they worried they would lose the site to Corrections Canada.
Having another federal department take over the site could cost as much as $400 million, DND officials added.
The DND proposal to move into the building, however, did not happen.
“We’re actually not considering the building,” said DND spokesman Dan Blouin. “PW (Public Works) contacted us and a couple of other departments and we determined it didn’t fit our needs.”
Public Works is now working on a plan to refit the buildings and is looking for new tenants. It has not yet been confirmed who would take over the buildings, said Public Works spokeswoman Michele LaRose.
“Once confirmed, the new tenants will be relocated in a phased approach over 2018 and 2019 as the newly fit-up office space is ready to occupy,” she added.
The buildings will be refitted to meet the federal government’s Workplace 2.0 standard. That includes “open, flexible and dynamic workspaces, which allow for innovative designs and better use of space,” explained LaRose.
“The fit-up standards also promote sustainable design principles and productive work environments to accommodate employees.”
The buildings will require seismic, electrical and mechanical updates to meet modern building standards, she also noted.
“The cost of the fit-up has not been calculated as new tenants have not yet been confirmed,” said LaRose. “Once confirmed, the fitup scope will be defined and project costs will be developed.”
But sources tell the Citizen that the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency are the two organizations being considered as tenants.
CSE has moved to its new $1-billion campus in the east end of Ottawa.
CSE management objected when officials with the Union of National Defence Employees dubbed the 72,000-square-metre complex the Taj Mahal because of its numerous amenities.
But the Citizen reported in 2012 that the federal government had its own moniker for the new facility: Camelot, named for the mythical castle and court of King Arthur.
The documents released at that time by the Department of National Defence under the Access to Information law noted that Project Camelot would deliver a world-class facility while at the same time solving CSE’s need for modern accommodation and increased electrical power.
“It will also distinguish Canada as a leader among its intelligence allies for this type of show-case facility,” stated the records.
CSE intercepts, decodes, translates and analyzes the communications of Canada’s adversaries. It also safeguards government computer systems.
In February it named its new facility on Ogilvie Road as the Edward Drake Building.
In 1946 Drake was named to head the spy organization that eventually became the Communications Security Establishment.