Ottawa commits $3.7 billion to expand military housing across Canada

Defence Minister David McGuinty announced a $3.7-billion plan to add about 6,000 housing units for the Canadian Armed Forces in 25 communities, supplementing roughly 800 units already underway. The move follows an auditor general report that highlighted aging housing stock, poor conditions and a shortfall of available units on multiple bases.

Defence Minister David McGuinty announced a $3.7-billion plan to build more housing units for Canada's military. The funding is intended to add about 6,000 units across 25 communities where the Canadian Armed Forces operates. That is in addition to roughly 800 new units already underway. The announcement follows an auditor general report that reported aging housing stock, poor conditions, and a shortfall of available units on multiple bases. Key details: - $3.7-billion commitment announced by Defence Minister David McGuinty. - About 6,000 additional housing units planned across 25 communities. - Adds to roughly 800 new units already underway. - CFB Gagetown is slated to receive about 500 new units; Kingston about 900; Valcartier, Petawawa and Edmonton are each set to receive more than 1,000 units. - A 2025 auditor general report found the military’s housing units were aging, in poor condition, and that there was a shortfall of available housing across multiple bases. - McGuinty said recruitment for the Armed Forces has risen by about 13 per cent over the last eight months. Summary: The measure is intended to increase the military's available housing and respond to the auditor general's findings on condition and shortfalls. Officials provided allocations for several bases, but a timeline for completion and other implementation details were not specified. Undetermined at this time.