As part of the next phase of what the Government of Canada calls a historic military housing expansion, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton is getting more than 350 new residential housing units.
Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty officially announced the launch of the second phase of the military housing expansion initiative to support Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families under the national housing construction program at the Uplands site of the Canadian Forces Support Group Ottawa-Gatineau.
Officials are calling this a major housing expansion that should deliver about 7,500 new residential housing units (RHUs) across the nation and said this will build on the accelerated progress of phase 1, which is already delivering more than 800 new units in nine locations “experiencing significant housing pressures.”
Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette was also in attendance for the announcement and confirmed 8 Wing/CFB Trenton will benefit to the tune of more than 350 new units through this latest phase.
“Our government is committed to supporting our Canadian Armed Forces members and housing is high on our priority list at CFB Trenton,” said Malette. “I have had many conversations with CAF personnel over the past year about the need for military housing in our riding, so I am pleased to see units for Trenton included in (Tuesday’s) announcement.”
Malette told MBC the announcement was “monumental” for the men and women serving in uniform and said for too long, housing has been ignored and been an afterthought, especially in certain areas at the Trenton base.
Through the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, the Department of National Defence said it will also build in communities like Ottawa, Valcartier, Que., Petawawa, Edmonton, Alta., Kingston and Gagetown, N.B., to name a few. There are both one and two-bedroom unit apartment buildings and housing units planned, according to government officials.
McGuinty said CAF members and their families deserve safe, modern and affordable housing and this plan serves as one of the most significant investments in military housing in decades.
What’s more, he said by building at speed and scale across the country, Canada is strengthening operational readiness, supporting recruitment and retention and giving military families the stability they need to thrive.
To enable the work, officials noted that Defence Construction Canada has issued an advanced procurement notice for potential projects valued at about $3.74 billion. This notice will serve to inform contractors of upcoming construction opportunities at locations across Canada and support early engagement, explained officials.
The Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) is also partnering with Build Canada Homes, which is the federal agency for affordable and non-market housing, to also support housing delivery by leveraging modern methods of construction, inclusive of modular and prefabricated building systems and the use of low-carbon materials, reads a recent government release.
“Phase 2 is our largest construction campaign since the creation of the portfolio in the post Second World War era,” noted Paola Zurro, CFHA CEO. “The Canadian Forces Housing Agency will work with industry to deliver housing at an unprecedented speed and scale to support Canadian Armed Forces members and their families.”
Officials highlighted that the investments in military housing will play a strategic role in strengthening the domestic supply chain and the goal is to also drive procurement of Canadian materials and create thousands of jobs over the duration of the program.
“It will also support Indigenous employment, business growth and long-term economic reconciliation through mandatory procurement targets and site-specific Indigenous benefits plans aiming to exceed the mandatory five per cent of the program’s contracting value to Indigenous businesses,” reads the government’s release.
Malette noted Trenton’s recently announced units should happen quicker than previously announced phase 1 units.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)