In a striking report that has shocked Canadians nationwide, Auditor General Karen Hogan revealed that thousands of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members are living in deteriorating and overcrowded housing units. Hogan described many of these buildings as “the kind of conditions you and I wouldn’t want to live in,” exposing a growing crisis in military housing and recruitment across the country.
1. Overview of the Auditor General’s Findings
The Auditor General’s Office conducted a deep inspection of military housing and found that many units are unsafe, outdated, and overcrowded. The audit focused on living quarters at three major bases — Esquimalt, Gagetown, and Trenton — revealing that 32 out of 35 inspected buildings required urgent repairs.
“Some buildings lacked safe drinking water, had broken toilets, or visible structural damage,” Hogan reported.
2. The Bases Under Review: Esquimalt, Gagetown, and Trenton
These three bases represent a cross-section of CAF housing across Canada. The report revealed widespread issues, including:
- Poor heating and insulation systems
- Contaminated water supply
- Cracked walls and leaking roofs
- Limited housing capacity leading to overcrowding
The oldest building inspected dated back to the Great Depression, making it nearly a century old.
3. Unsafe and Aging Infrastructure
According to National Defence’s own data, 25% of military housing is in such poor condition that it either needs major repairs or fails to meet operational needs. The Auditor General found that insufficient maintenance budgets have allowed decades of decay to accumulate.
| Problem | Percentage of Affected Units |
|---|---|
| Major structural damage | 32% |
| Plumbing and water issues | 27% |
| Electrical or heating failure | 22% |
| Overcrowding | 19% |
4. Defence Department’s Maintenance Failures
The Department of National Defence (DND) has repeatedly fallen short of its own spending goals for infrastructure maintenance. Despite billions allocated for the armed forces, much of it was redirected toward other operational costs, leaving essential housing projects underfunded.
5. Minister McGuinty Responds to the Report
Defence Minister David McGuinty acknowledged the report’s findings, calling them “long overdue.”
“For decades, governments have not made the investments we need to make in our armed forces,” McGuinty said.
He defended current efforts, noting recent pay raises and new funding as part of a larger initiative to recruit and retain personnel.
However, McGuinty admitted that lead contamination remains an ongoing issue in some base water systems — another sign of neglected infrastructure.
6. Lead in Water Systems and Other Health Risks
Several military bases still struggle with unsafe lead levels in drinking water. The audit revealed that some repairs have been delayed for years due to bureaucratic backlogs and lack of funding. Hogan warned that ignoring these risks could endanger soldiers’ health and morale.
7. Housing Shortage: 3,706 Members Waiting
The Canadian Forces Housing Agency manages fewer units than the CAF requires. As of spring 2025, only 205 housing units were available, compared to 3,706 members on waiting lists.
This shortage is particularly concerning as the CAF plans to recruit 6,000 new members by April 2029. Without expanding its housing supply, overcrowding and dissatisfaction are expected to worsen.
8. Recruitment Challenges and Delays
A separate section of the Auditor General’s report focused on recruitment inefficiencies. Between 2022 and 2025, the CAF received 192,000 applications, but only one in thirteen candidates successfully joined.
The main issues identified include:
- Lengthy screening times (average of 300+ days vs. a target of 150)
- High dropout rates (54% of applicants quit within two months)
- Backlogs in security clearances, now exceeding 23,000 files
9. Policy Change Favoring New Recruits Sparks Discontent
In 2024, National Defence introduced a policy giving new recruits priority access to housing units. However, Hogan’s report criticized the move for being poorly evaluated.
This policy shift risks alienating long-serving members, many of whom already face difficulty securing housing.
“There’s a real danger this will hurt retention,” the report concluded.
10. Training Crisis and Shortage of Instructors
Even as the CAF struggles to attract new members, it also lacks enough instructors to train them. The report warned that ongoing equipment shortages and burnout among current instructors could jeopardize training quality.
To meet short-term needs, the CAF has been forced to hire temporary instructors, an expensive and unsustainable solution.
11. The Road Ahead for Canada’s Armed Forces
While Defence Minister McGuinty emphasized recent progress — including surpassing last year’s recruitment target by 210 recruits — the Auditor General’s findings paint a bleak picture. Without immediate investments in housing, training, and infrastructure, Canada’s military readiness may decline further.
The message is clear: those who serve the nation deserve better living conditions and stronger institutional support.