The Department of National Defence Provides Updates on Canadian Armed Forces Housing Across Canada

October 16, 2025 – Esquimalt, British Columbia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors), on behalf of Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the recent acquisition of a brand-new, privately developed apartment complex located minutes from Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt. This four-storey, $23.3 million apartment complex includes 37 move-in ready apartments and 47 parking spots and will be used to house CAF members working at the Base starting January 2026.

To help meet the housing needs of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) is exploring alternative solutions through private sector partnerships and support to federal housing initiatives, including acquisitions like this one. This particular acquisition was achieved through an unprecedented, multi-departmental approach that reduced a typical processing time of one to two years into just five weeks to complete, resulting in faster access to housing for CAF members.

CFB Esquimalt is one of several locations receiving significant increases in CAF housing-related projects, including the construction and acquisition of several hundred residential housing units by mid-2030s. Secretary of State McLean also highlighted the progress being made with other housing initiatives across Canada, including:

• Construction of 36 apartment units in six net-zero-emissions ready apartment buildings in Edmonton to be ready in Spring 2026, the first of their kind in the Government of Canada;

• Completion of two new six-unit buildings late 2026 and the design of an additional 48 residential housing units in Kingston;

• Multi-year construction of 60 residential housing units starting this Fall in Valcartier;

• Construction of 48 residential housing units in Borden;

• Start of the design of 48 residential housing units in Halifax; 80 in Petawawa; 72 in Borden and 40 in Gagetown; and

• Reserving 20 completed residential housing units from the private sector and the design of 92 residential housing units to start this Fall in Trenton.

These first initiatives were launched in areas identified as having the highest need for military housing. Over the coming decade, additional locations with Department of National Defence residential housing units will also undergo new construction.

Our people are our highest priority, and we will continue to leverage every available resource to provide CAF members with access to affordable housing options.

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Quotes

“Throughout their careers, Canadian Armed Forces members and their families make countless personal sacrifices to serve their country. It is critical that we provide personnel with living accommodations that improve their quality of life, not impede their ability to do their job. We will continue to commit time, effort, and resources to ensuring personnel and their families are appropriately compensated and provided for in exchange for the work they do in service of Canada.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

“The acquisition of this new apartment complex in Esquimalt shows the Department’s willingness to think outside the box to support Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. Today’s update on housing plans for CAF members reflects how much we value those who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.”

The Honourable Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors)

“We are accelerating the delivery of the Department of National Defence military housing program and this acquisition will enable us to deliver houses sooner at a moment where they are needed most.”

Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer, CFHA

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Quick facts

• The recently acquired apartment complex will be managed by CFHA.

• Thanks to innovative planning and design work with partners like Defence Construction Canada, CFHA was able to make better use of space at select sites by improving the layout of the new multi-unit buildings. As a result, 124 units are being added to the previously announced 120 new builds in Esquimalt, bringing the total to 244 units for Phase 1 only.

• Announced in August 2024, design work is also proceeding at CFB Esquimalt for a new, 31,700 m2, 480-room military accommodations facility for Junior Non-Commission Members.

• The defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free allocated $2 billion over 20 years to establish a Canadian Armed Forces Housing Strategy, build new housing, and rehabilitate existing housing. This funding is in addition to the $475 million committed over 10 years starting in 2022-23.

The first phase of CFHA’s Residential Portfolio Capital Investment Plan construction program will deliver 824 residential housing units at nine priority locations over the next five years, including:

• Esquimalt – 244 units

• Borden – 120 units;

• Edmonton – 80 units;

• Gagetown – 40 units;

• Halifax – 48 units;

• Kingston – 60 units;

• Petawawa – 80 units;

• Trenton – 92 units; and

• Valcartier – 60 units.