Canada eyes $1.5B to $1.8B data centre for CSE in Ottawa

The Canadian federal government is considering the construction of a 60-megawatt data centre in the Ottawa area for the Communications Security Establishment (CSE). According to a procurement notice from Defence Construction Canada, the project is estimated to cost between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion.

The CSE stated that the facility is intended to increase secure computing capacity to support national security and defence priorities, helping to modernize infrastructure against evolving threats. The agency noted that specific technical and operational requirements will not be disclosed to protect national security.

The proposal follows the recent release of the federal government’s Responsible Data Centre Development Principles. These non-binding guidelines suggest that data centre developments should provide local benefits, minimize environmental impacts such as water use, and avoid shifting electricity costs to citizens. A formal tender for the project is expected in 2027.