Borden, Ontario, Canada - Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, visited Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden to provide an update on the construction of Residential Housing Units (RHUs) for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on several bases and wings across Canada.
The Department of National Defence (DND), through the Canadian Forces Housing Agency
(CFHA), will construct 668 new RHUs and renovate more than 600 RHUs across the country over the next five years. This is a significant investment in DND’s housing portfolio and will support DND and CAF operational requirements by focusing on areas with the greatest need.The new RHUs will include a mix of housing types, such as multi-unit buildings, row houses and semi-detached units. By building more on-base housing, DND is helping meet the housing needs of military personnel, while alleviating housing demands in surrounding communities.
While on-site today, Minister Blair officially opened and toured the new accommodations facility. This new five-storey, 15,600-m2 facility at CFB Borden will provide 350 modern sleeping quarters, common lounge areas, study areas, laundry rooms, storage, and office spaces to the recruits who will train on base. This project also includes parking for 300 vehicles and more bus stops to encourage the use of public transit. Considering new recruits spend approximately two-thirds of their time in residence, this facility will improve students’ living spaces, their ability to study and, ultimately, quality of life on the base.
This is the most recent project in a broader revitalization plan for CFB Borden, which will consolidate a number of existing facilities on the base, co-locating classrooms, accommodations quarters, and student amenities in an area close to training facilities.
As indicated in Canada’s renewed Defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the construction of the new RHUs are part of a broader $1.4 billion investment over 20 years for housing projects to support the men and women of the CAF. To attract and retain talent from across Canada, the Government is investing in improving CAF childcare on bases across Canada, ensuring CAF members have continuous health care between provinces and territories, and building new and rehabilitating existing housing.
Quotes
“The work of the Canadian Armed Forces is only possible because of its people. With Our North, Strong and Free, we are investing in a suite of supports for our service members and their families. The construction of 668 new housing units will help house more military families in affordable homes near bases across the country.”
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
"As Borden is the largest training base in the CAF, with 35 different military units, and more than 5,000 personnel working on the base at any given time, these new accommodations and planned residential housing units will contribute to our members' success. By improving the living accommodations, we are creating an environment that better supports our members’ well-being and ability to perform their duties.”
LGen Lise Bourgon, Commander Military Personnel Command
“We are focused on delivering 668 residential housing units across the country. These much-needed military houses will contribute to the quality of life of CAF members and their families.”
Paola Zurro, Chief Executive Officer, CFHA
Quick facts
About the construction of residential housing units (RHUs)
- CFB Borden will see the addition of 120 RHUs across the construction of eight buildings of six units and six buildings of 12 units. This construction will increase the existing portfolio to 795 RHUs. Construction contracts will be awarded later this year.
- Modified Design Build (MDB) contracts have already been issued in Ontario, Esquimalt and Gagetown. Construction is planned to be completed at all nine sites by 2029/30.
- DND is continuing its review of the properties listed on the Public Lands Bank, with the aim of expediting the process for their disposal to provide housing for Canadians.
- The Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) will oversee the construction of these new units at nine priority locations. Plans are underway for construction in Gagetown, Halifax, Valcartier, Trenton, Kingston, Petawawa, Borden, Edmonton, and Esquimalt as these locations have the highest number of CAF entrants, members on long-term training and private sector market challenges.
- This first phase of construction is planned to be completed at all nine sites by 2029/30.
- Construction of RHUs is underway at multiple bases across the country. In spring 2024, construction began on six residential net-zero-emission-ready buildings in Edmonton, the first of their kind in the federal government, through a $19 million contract awarded to Bird Construction.
- As outlined in the Defence Climate and Sustainability Strategy, all new military housing construction will be net-zero emissions, or net-zero-emissions-ready, and at least 40% less energy intensive than residential housing units and buildings constructed to current code requirements.
- In addition to construction projects in Borden, CFHA continues to focus investment on the existing portfolio, through planned maintenance and renovations. These renovations will increase functionality and energy efficiency, resulting in lower utility costs for occupants.
About the new accommodations facility
- The new accommodations building was constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards. The facility includes a number of green features, like energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. By modernizing and improving the energy efficiency of our defence infrastructure, we are supporting the needs of a modern military, while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and saving on energy costs.
- The construction contract for this facility was awarded in November 2020 to Corebuild Construction Ltd., of North York, ON, for $50 million. Construction began in March 2021 and was completed in fall 2024. The total project is valued at approximately $75 million.
- As indicated in our renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is committed to improving quality of life for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and providing them with the tools they need to meet today’s and future challenges. This is why Our North, Strong and Free invests $10.2 billion over 20 years in current and new infrastructure.
About the base
- Canadian Forces Base Borden (CFB Borden) is located approximately 100 kilometers north of Toronto, in the heart of Simcoe County, one of the major tourist areas in Ontario. The base is the largest training establishment in the CAF and is home to a variety of other military and Defence Team organizations. On average, CFB Borden trains 20,000 military personnel annually. It also employs approximately 3,250 military members and 1,500 civilians. The base is comprised of 21,000 acres of land, including a 6,000 acre training area. The Commander of CFB Borden is also Commander of the Military Personnel Generation Training Group (MPGTG), the headquarters of which are also located at CFB Borden.
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