The state of Canadian military housing has reached a critical tipping point, with the Auditor General’s latest report calling the conditions “decrepit” and “unacceptable” for the families who serve our country.
Walking through the aging military housing units in CFB Petawawa last month, I witnessed firsthand what Auditor General Karen Hogan described as “housing that you wouldn’t want to live in yourself.” Water-stained ceilings, outdated electrical systems, and mold issues plague many of the 11,800 residential housing units managed by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA).
The report, released yesterday, paints a troubling picture of neglect spanning more than two decades. Nearly 60% of military housing was built before 1960, with maintenance backlogs now exceeding $1.1 billion according to Department of National Defence figures.
“Our service members protect Canadians every day, yet we can’t provide them with safe, affordable housing,” Hogan told the parliamentary committee. “This isn’t just a housing issue—it’s a national security concern that affects military readiness and retention.”
For Master Corporal Jeanette Lapointe, a 12-year veteran stationed at CFB Edmonton, the housing crisis has become personal. “I’ve had to replace my children’s clothes twice because of mold damage,” she told me during a community meeting where dozens of military families shared similar stories.
The crisis comes amid growing concerns about military recruitment and retention. Defence Minister Bill Blair acknowledged the severity of the situation, pledging $240 million in emergency funding to address the most critical repairs.
“This is a down payment on what must become a sustained commitment,” Blair said at a press conference following the report’s release. “We cannot expect our military personnel to defend our country while their families live in substandard conditions.”
However, critics argue the response falls dramatically short. Conservative defence critic James Bezan called the funding “a drop in the bucket” compared to what’s needed, pointing to the Auditor General’s recommendation of at least $3.1 billion to bring existing housing to acceptable standards.
“This problem didn’t develop overnight,” military housing advocate Sarah Thornton explained. “When housing issues were first identified in 1998, the required investment was less than $300 million. That’s the cost of procrastination.”
The housing crisis disproportionately affects junior-ranking members who rely most heavily on military housing. At bases like Esquimalt and Halifax, where local rental markets have seen dramatic increases, military families often face an impossible choice between unaffordable civilian housing or substandard military accommodations.
According to the Canadian Armed Forces Housing Survey completed earlier this year, 76% of respondents reported significant maintenance issues in their homes, while 42% indicated housing conditions had affected their decision to remain in the military.
Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) David Perry, defence analyst at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, sees the housing crisis as symptomatic of larger defence infrastructure problems. “When budgets get tight, maintenance is always the first casualty. We’ve been underfunding military infrastructure for decades, and housing has suffered the most.”
The Auditor General’s report highlights that the CFHA has been operating with outdated policies and insufficient resources. The agency’s mandate to provide housing at 25% below market rates has become increasingly difficult as maintenance costs rise while funding remains stagnant.
“In CFB Trenton, we found properties that hadn’t seen meaningful upgrades since the 1950s,” Hogan noted. “Basic systems like heating, plumbing, and electrical need complete overhauls, not patchwork repairs.”
For Corporal Miguel Rodriguez at CFB Shilo, Manitoba, the consequences extend beyond comfort. “My daughter developed respiratory problems that our doctor directly linked to the mold in our housing unit,” he shared. “We requested transfers three times before action was taken.”
The housing crisis also complicates the military’s efforts to increase diversity. Lieutenant-Commander Tracy Simmons, diversity coordinator at Naval Base Esquimalt, explained: “Inadequate housing disproportionately impacts military families with special needs, larger families, or those requiring accessibility modifications.”
Experts suggest solutions must go beyond emergency repairs. Dr. Lauren Williams, professor of military sociology at Queen’s University, recommends a complete rethinking of the military housing approach. “The current model dates from post-World War II. We need housing that reflects contemporary family structures and provides the stability military families deserve.”
Treasury Board President Anita Anand, who previously served as Defence Minister, promised a “whole-of-government” approach to solving the crisis. “This isn’t just DND’s problem. We need Finance, Infrastructure, and Treasury Board working together on sustainable solutions.”
For now, military families continue waiting. Sergeant Patrick O’Neill, preparing for his fourth deployment while his family remains in problematic housing at CFB Gagetown, summed up the frustration felt by many: “We’re asked to risk everything for Canada. Is it too much to ask for safe housing for our families while we’re away?”
As Parliament debates the next steps, the Auditor General’s message remains clear: the status quo is not an option. The question is whether this report will finally generate the political will to solve a crisis decades in the making.
