1. The year in review from the Chief Executive Officer - Canadian Forces Housing Agency Annual Report 2020-2021

As a Special Operating Agency (SOA), the Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) provides residential accommodation solutions for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families.

Fiscal year 2020-2021 was a year like no other, with the World Health Organization declaring just three weeks prior to its start that the COVID-19 virus disease that had been spreading across the world for months had achieved global pandemic status.

This new, uncertain, and fluid environment forced CFHA to find ways to overcome a multitude of challenges to sustain its operations. The Agency faced these trials successfully, demonstrating an impressive level of adaptability, resilience, and agility. Seemingly overnight, the Agency’s 11,656 Residential Housing Units (RHUs) became more than just homes to the approximately 26,000 occupants it served. These RHUs also served

as offices, classrooms, daycares, and sick wards in 27 locations across Canada as CAF members and their families were forced to find ways to live their lives almost exclusively from home in the volatile environment defined by the pandemic.

I am honoured to present an overview of CFHA’s achievements. When the pandemic hit, the Agency quickly implemented several process changes to address the health and safety concerns of its workforce and those of its occupants. The Agency ensured employees had access to mental health and wellness resources to help them face the difficulties of operating in a suddenly very different challenging situation. CFHA’s strength lies in its people, and they did not disappoint. Colleagues across the country rallied to confront those challenges, finding new ways to work and to connect virtually with each other over the past year, embracing a new way of working.

Beyond responding to the pandemic, CFHA also advanced on other initiatives. These included the modernization of our procurement methods through bundling hundreds of the Standing Offers (SOs) used by the Housing Service Centres (HSCs) daily. The reduction from 230 to 35 multi-trade SOs significantly improved operational efficiencies by reducing administrative burden and streamlining the service delivery standard at the working level.

In 2020-2021, CFHA invested $113M into its housing portfolio and housing services, managing to deliver many construction, renovation, and lifecycle projects

notwithstanding the pandemic’s restrictive conditions. The Agency completed the construction of two apartment buildings in Borden, responding to the Department’s housing requirements at this location.

Every member of the Agency demonstrated their commitment and passion despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19. True to CFHA’s values, the agility and resourcefulness they demonstrated, made 2020-2021 a year to remember. CFHA did not stand alone – it was able to leverage its relationships within the Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) (ADM(IE)) Group, with CAF leadership across the country, and with Defence Construction Canada, to not only sustain core operations, but to advance on key priorities and initiatives.

CFHA looks forward to building upon our successes during the coming years and meeting the Department of National Defence’s housing needs.

Serge Tremblay
A/Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Forces Housing Agency