A new internal report has revealed that an increasing number of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members are leaving the military due to poor housing conditions and limited access to health care, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
The Evaluation of Canadian Armed Forces Retention report shows that more than 10% of CAF members were relocated in 2024, often to communities where military housing is scarce, health-care providers are limited, and spousal employment opportunities are uncertain. These pressures, researchers say, are driving many soldiers, sailors and air crew to walk away from their careers rather than endure repeated hardship.
Waiting lists are especially severe. At some bases, daycare wait times stretch up to 32 months, while housing queues are even longer. “High housing costs… loss of spousal employment… and shortages in primary health-care providers can lead to financial and personal hardships,” the report noted. Dual-income households now form the majority of CAF families, making relocations and the loss of a second income even harder to manage.
The attrition rate for junior ranks, including young parents, has climbed to 9.4%.
