Canada to enhance national safety and security

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced a planned investment in defence infrastructure for the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). The investment will result in the construction of a new, state-of-the-art building in Ottawa for the agency, creating significant economic benefits for the local community. The intent, upon completion of the government approval process, is to implement this project through a public-private partnership. In this case, the venture will involve the federal government and the private sector. The benefits include access to private-sector capital, expertise and innovation; greater certainty of on-time completion of the project; and the transfer of certain risks to the private sector. An open and competitive bidding process is scheduled for later this year. “This project will ensure CSEC’s continued ability to evolve within an increasingly complex global environment,” said Minister MacKay. “It will also maintain Canada’s position as a strong contributor to the international intelligence community whose reciprocal contribution to the Government of Canada intelligence requirements is significant". "This project in Ottawa represents an estimated $800 million capital investment by the Government of Canada in the National Capital Region," said the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean. “The construction of CSEC's new facility represents a continued commitment to national security and this increased investment in defence infrastructure will also bring economic benefits to the region and Canadian industry". Facilities management and life-cycle replacement costs, over a 30-year agreement, will be added to the project total. Construction is planned to begin in early 2011. Funding for Phase I of this project is from the 2007 Budget. A construction contract was awarded in August 2008 to EllisDon of Ottawa for the construction of a 6,000 rentable metres squared (rm2) building to be completed by 2011 to alleviate the immediate space shortages CSEC is facing right now. Phase II, announced today, will offer CSEC another 72,000 rm2.