Canada’s spy bosses think of their elaborate new HQ as ‘Camelot’

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

When finished in 2015-16, Communications Security Establishment Canada’s new $880-million spy campus on Ogilvie Road, near Blair Road, 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 solving 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 show-case facility,” say the documents, 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.”

SEC 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 was 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.

The various features of the campus will aid in attracting highly skilled employees, the spy organization argues.

“The resulting cutting-edge facility will enable the organization’s unique contribution to Canada’s national security by enhancing CSEC’s appeal to the best and brightest technical, linguistic, mathematics, computer science, and network defence capabilities experts,” the documents point out.

The CSEC complex is located near the Canadian Security Intelligence Service headquarters. But the documents point out that “will likely increase public awareness of CSEC in contrast to its current relatively low profile.”

According to the records, the new building will be ready for occupancy in 2015-16.

Major concrete work on the facility is already finished and the roof of the building is nearly completed.

“Over the next few months, work will focus on completing the building’s exterior,” CSEC spokeswoman Christine Callahan stated in an email. “Once the outside of the building is complete, work will commence on the interior fit-up. Sidewalks and safety lighting has begun on site.”

In addition, the expansion of the intersection of Ogilvie Road, between the Montana’s and East Side Mario’s restaurants, will be finished shortly, she added.

Another building at the site, known as the medium-term accommodation facility, was finished in November 2011. About 200 CSEC employees work there.

According to CSEC, about 3,000 skilled trade jobs have been created because of the project.

CSEC headquarters are currently housed in the Sir Leonard Tilley Building on Heron Road, but the organization also has several other locations throughout the city.

Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: David Pugliese