Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden marked a major milestone with the official opening of a five-storey accommodations facility designed to support the thousands of military personnel who train at the base each year.
Minister of National Defence Bill Blair was on hand for the ceremony on Thursday, where he also announced a national housing initiative.
“I am pleased to announce that the Department of National Defence through the Canadian Forces Housing Agency will build 668 new residential units and renovate more than 600 additional units right across the country,” Blair stated.
As part of the initiative, 120 new homes will be built at CFB Borden, including a mix of multi-use dwellings, row houses, and semi-detached units.
Blair said the investment is meant to improve living conditions for military members and their families.
“This construction is not only going to take place here at Borden, but also at Gagetown, Halifax, Trenton, Kingston, Petawawa, Edmonton, and Esquimalt,” he added.
The new accommodations facility at Borden features 350 modern sleeping quarters, common lounge areas, study spaces, laundry rooms, and office spaces.
“Today we mark the beginning of a significant step forward in addressing the needs of those who serve our country,” said Lt.-Gen. Lise Bourgon, Commander of Military Personnel Command.
Blair also highlighted how the investments in military housing would help ease housing shortages in surrounding communities. He acknowledged that recruiting remains a challenge for the Canadian Armed Forces and that better living conditions could help attract and retain personnel.
“We need approximately 14,500 additional personnel just to meet our current staffing levels, but in order to take them on we have to build additional training capacity, we have to build additional supports for the ones we take on,” he said.
The housing construction and renovations will take place over the next five years.
