October 21,2025
RED FM News Desk
Canada’s auditor general has uncovered major issues with the military’s outdated housing, including unsafe drinking water, broken toilets, and deteriorating buildings.
Karen Hogan’s latest report, released Tuesday, found 227 high-priority repairs needed across 32 buildings—but only five per cent had been completed. “These are living conditions none of us would accept, and our Armed Forces shouldn’t have to either,” Hogan said.
During inspections of military quarters at three bases, auditors found cramped spaces that could lead to overcrowding, shared showers instead of private stalls, and a lack of basic amenities like Wi-Fi.
The report highlights a deep housing shortage within the Canadian Armed Forces, with demand far outpacing supply. As of this spring, 3,706 members were on a waitlist for on-base housing, but only 205 units were available.
The average age of military housing is 60 years, and most units require at least one urgent repair. Hogan warned that the government’s current $2.2-billion plan to build 1,400 new units and renovate 2,500 more by 2043 will still leave a shortfall of 3,800 to 5,800 homes due to outdated planning data.
Hogan also linked poor housing conditions to low morale and retention challenges, noting that the Forces are still struggling to replace the number of personnel leaving.
Defence Minister David McGuinty acknowledged the problem, saying, “We have work to do.” He noted that the government has begun implementing new solutions, including purchasing an apartment building in Esquimalt, B.C., to house service members.
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