Canada · Ottawa · Elections hub
Ottawa Plans Data Centre of Up to $1.8B for Cyber Agency
In brief
The federal government has posted advance notice that it plans to design and build a large data centre in the National Capital Region, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), Canada’s signals intelligence and cyber security agency, told Radio-Canada the facility would support its current and future operational needs.
What the notice says
According to CBC News, the advance procurement notice on the MERX contracting site describes a 60-megawatt facility, which CBC said is enough energy to power at least 30,000 homes. The notice links the project to the government’s mid- to long-term goals for operations, security and technology modernization.
The notice is not a request for proposals. It is meant to give interested firms time to obtain security clearances, and CBC reported that the actual contract is expected to be posted early next year. The notice also warns there is no guarantee the contract will go ahead. The Globe and Mail separately reported the cost estimate as $1.5 billion to $1.85 billion.
Local debate over data centres
The plan arrives as data centres become a municipal election issue in Ottawa. City council passed a motion last month asking staff to develop a framework for judging data centres by size and impact, with a report expected early next year, CBC said. Some Ontario cities, including Oakville and Mississauga, have paused new data centres for a year while they study the issue, and Ontario released its own data centre framework in August.
What is not yet known
The exact location, the final budget and the construction timeline have not been confirmed, and the project still depends on the contracting process.
Curious how much power a big facility uses? Try our unit converter for energy and power units. ViralScopeHub is not affiliated with the Government of Canada; this is an independent news summary.
Why it matters
A secure, government-owned data centre is part of a wider push to keep sensitive Canadian data on Canadian soil, but large facilities also raise questions about electricity demand and local impact.
Related free tools: Unit Converter
Sources
- CBC News: Federal government planning to build data centre in National Capital Region
- The Globe and Mail: Cyber intelligence agency planning large data centre in Ottawa area
- Radio-Canada: Un centre de données de plus d’1,5 milliard $ à Ottawa
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