The Communications Security Establishment of Canada (CSEC) is the federal intelligence centre for the protection of electronic information and communication. They are our information wizards, helping law enforcement keep Canadians' privacy — and private government information — safe from the growing concerns of cyber-theft and fraud.
But the government's secrecy around the department's new 72,0000-square-metre building is as almost clandestine as the goings-on inside.
The new building neighbours the Canadian Security Intelligence Service offices in Ottawa's east end. Employees are scheduled to move in the fall of 2014.
Australian firm, Plenary Properties, will manage the building for 30 years. The Canadian government says it will save $176 million over the span of the 30-year partnership.
But, on that point, Gregory Thomas, national director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, is skeptical of the government's math.
Public-private partnerships are "an easy way to hide the real costs of things," he said, adding a parliamentary committee on public accounts should have analysed the cost structure of the deal and reported to the public before a final decision was made.
NDP MP Mathieu Ravignat, who sits on the committee that reviews the budgets for such things, told QMI that the Conservatives haven't provided proof that the new building was worth it the money cost to build and run it.
He questioned spending $880 million at a time of government austerity, despite the growing need to protect federal departments’ electronic communications.
"We had cases of information theft," Ravignat said. "(Are thefts) a scourge in our society? Do they put the country and its security in danger? I doubt it. I think we should have proved our infrastructure and our current capacities (didn't work) before going ahead with an $880-million (project)."
Bloc Quebecois MP Jean-Francois Fortin said the "ultra secret" project was given the green light without Parliament receiving "an ounce of information that would have allowed us to judge the pertinence of spending that much money."
Fortin called the CSEC project undemocratic and compared it to the F-35 fighter jet program, estimates for the costs of which greatly surpassed the government's initial figures.
Head of CSEC, John Forster, told a Senate committee in November that the $880-million price tag is what it will take to "keep at bay those who want to infiltrate our government systems."
Current CSEC infrastructure dates from the 1950s, is clearly outdated, and is scattered around the Ottawa region. The new CSEC building will house the entire department -- including the country's five most powerful computers -- under one roof.
The new building will host a cafeteria, a walking trail, showers, a 400-seat conference centre and a private-sector daycare. The government planned to install a skating rink in the building, but abandoned the idea after a union president criticised the idea.
Professor David Skillicorn from Queen's University School of Computing said protecting the country from terrorist attacks doesn't have a price.
He said Canada is the world leader in the collection of electromagnetic intelligence, and it needs to stay at the forefront of technological developments to keep its secrets and guard those of its friends.
Canada is a member of the "Five Eyes" alliance -- five countries that share intelligence to combat those looking to steal it. Much of the data and sensitive information collected by Canada is offered to its Five Eyes partners -- the U.S., the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
What is the CSEC?
The Communications Security Establishment of Canada was established in 1946 and continues operates in complete secrecy. Its operations are so opaque that the Canadian government only acknowledged its existence in 2002.
The CSEC developed a favourable reputation with the U.S. during the Cold War when CSEC listening posts in the Canadian Arctic spied on Soviet missile movements.
Professor David Skillicorn from Queen's University School of Computing said the CSEC is Canada's only foreign intelligence-gathering agency.
The CSEC has an annual budget of $350 million and has 2,000 employees. It is only permitted to intercept communications from foreign targets and cannot spy on Canadian citizens at home or abroad.
The CSEC has a program that targets Quebec separatists, called "The French Problem," which allegedly exists to this day. The program was revealed in a 1994 book by former CSEC spy Mike Frost.
Original Article
Source: calgarysun.com
Author: Huguette Young
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