New home for Canada’s top electronic spies

Ottawa campus called ‘Taj Mahal’

Canada’s electronic spy organization believes the state-oftheart headquarters being built in Ottawa will make it a leader among its allies and attract the best and brightest spies, according to newly released government documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

When finished in 2015- 16, Communications Security Establishment Canada’s $ 880- million spy campus is expected to be home to more than 1,800 employees.

CSEC management objected last year 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 documents show the government has its own moniker for the new facility: Camelot, named for the mythical castle and court of King Arthur.

The documents released by the Defence Department note that Project Camelot will deliver a world-class facility while at the same time solve CSEC’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 showcase facility,” according to the documents.

The documents were released under the access-to-information law.

“Canada obtains enormous benefit from CSEC through this alliance. This project will demonstrate Canada’s continued commitment to contributing to its international intelligence partnerships.”

CSEC intercepts, decodes, translates and analyzes the communications of Canada’s adversaries. It also safeguards government computer systems.

The original plans shown to CSEC employees noted that the complex would be equipped with a hockey rink, basketball and volleyball courts, and a bank. The diagrams also showed hiking trails, as well as a hobby garden, coffee bar, cafeteria, kitchenettes and showers.

There were also storage facilities for 250 bikes, 800 parking spots for employee vehicles, a courtyard, a large fireplace in the foyer of one of the buildings and a daycare centre.

And, the original plans indicated, there will be a data centre, a 400-seat conference centre, 40-seat classrooms, formal meeting rooms for 25 people at a time, a library and an encryption building.

It was after he was shown the plans that John MacLennan, the head of the Union of National Defence Employees, called the new complex Canada’s “Taj Mahal.”

Union officials agree CSEC needs a new building, but they wonder why the complex has to be so elaborate at a time when public servants are losing their jobs and the government is trying to cut costs.

A few of the proposed items, such as a hockey rink and a hobby garden for employees, have since been dropped, according to CSEC.

The government documents note that Project Camelot will make use of natural light throughout and be eco-friendly, one of the few government buildings to meet such standards.

In addition, the installation of the 28 filtered water fountains — at $200 each — will also help the environment, according to CSEC.