Backgrounder

The consolidation of the National Defence Headquarters will fulfill a Government commitment to bring thousands of Department of National Defence (DND) staff and members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) located in the National Capital Area (NCA) together in significantly fewer areas to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

In particular, the move of approximately 8,500 NCA-based Defence Team members – military and civilian – will reduce operational and accommodation costs, strengthen departmental security, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Defence Headquarters operations.

This move will create net savings to the Government of Canada of more than $750M, in addition to $160M in cost avoidance, over 25 years by significantly reducing the numerous leases for National Defence's current locations. This consolidation will generate operational efficiencies and greatly reduce the number of moves between buildings as a result of expired leases and decommissioning.

Before and after consolidation map

Why Carling Campus?

As leases expire and older leased buildings are decommissioned, the availability of suitable replacement facilities has been declining in the NCA downtown area. Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) purchased the Carling Campus in 2010 in response to National Defence's accommodation challenges.

In addition to providing an effective workplace to carry out Defence Headquarters operations, the Carling Campus provides the opportunity to meet Defence's security requirements, as well as to harness new information technology where appropriate. It will also lead to an earlier adoption of new government accommodation standards and provide a healthy work environment, including extensive collaborative work spaces.

Accommodations - Before and After Consolidation

Through consolidation to the Carling Campus, National Defence will reduce the number of headquarters locations in the NCA from over 40 to approximately seven.

In addition to the Carling Campus, the remaining office facilities in the region will include:

Gatineau (Quebec):

  • the Louis St. Laurent Building at 555 Boulevard de la Carrière & a building at 455 Boulevard de la Carrière;
  • 241 Boulevard Cité-des-Jeunes;
  • parts of the National Printing Bureau at 45 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard; and
  • Hôtel de Ville at 105 Hôtel de Ville Street.

Ottawa (Ontario):

  • offices in a downtown location;
  • offices for arm's-length organizations, such as the National Defence Ombudsman and Military Police Complaints Commission; and
  • NDHQ operational elements will continue to be located at 1600 Star Top Road.

With a smaller footprint, National Defence will experience greater agility in adapting to the future challenges of Defence work and in responding to Government of Canada priorities.

Migration

Migration is currently targeted to begin in late 2015 and will be conducted in three phases. The first phase of migration will move over 3,000 members. Details for the next two phases will be finalized over the next year. Full occupancy is expected to be complete within approximately six years, at which point about 8,500 Defence Team members will be located at the Carling Campus.

Security is the paramount consideration in preparing the Campus for occupancy. National Defence, PWGSC and Shared Services Canada will continue to work together to minimize the cost of the project to the greatest extent possible by re-using furniture and material from the Campus and from National Defence's inventory, as well as in using existing information technology infrastructure.