Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The federal government has launched the second phase of its national military housing program, aiming to build about 7,500 new homes for Canadian Armed Forces members across Canada.
Phase 2 is the largest construction campaign since the creation of the portfolio in the post-Second World War era.
The program is expected to create thousands of job-years across Canada in trades, engineering, architecture, logistics and manufacturing. It also includes mandatory procurement targets and site-specific Indigenous benefits plans to exceed the five per cent contracting requirement for Indigenous businesses.
The first phase delivered more than 800 units in nine locations experiencing significant housing pressures. Construction will focus on one- and two-bedroom apartment-style units across all 25 CFHA locations, with the largest growth planned for Valcartier, Que.; Petawawa, Ont.; Edmonton, Alta.; Kingston, Ont.; and Gagetown, N.B.
To support the program, Defence Construction Canada issued an advanced procurement notice for projects valued at about $3.74 billion. The notice gives contractors early notice of upcoming opportunities and encourages the use of modern construction methods, including modular and prefabricated systems and low-carbon materials.
“This historic expansion, including 280 new homes here in Ottawa, is one of the most significant investments in military housing in decades,” David McGuinty, minister of national defence said Thursday at the Uplands site of Canadian Forces Support Group in Ottawa‑Gatineau. “The expansion will include roughly 280 new units in Ottawa, with 160 to be built at Uplands.
“By building at speed and scale across the country, we are strengthening operational readiness, supporting recruitment and retention, and giving military families the stability they need to thrive.”
Construction will also support sustainable building practices and climate-resilient infrastructure in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada and the National Research Council of Canada.
Phase 2 spans 25 sites across six regions and is valued at more than $3.7 billion, generating work for contractors, suppliers, and service providers in communities across the country.
