ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿

Timeline of Key Events

2026

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ celebrates 75 years of supporting Canada’s defence mission.

2025

Value of annual contract expenditures reaches $1.5 billion

2022

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ exceeds the federal government’s 5% target for Indigenous procurements. 

2020

Agility and resilience during COVID-19 pandemic

2019

First Government of Canada construction project use of integrated project delivery (IPD), for the Royal Canadian Dragoons facility at CFB Petawawa, Ontario

2017

Value of construction contract expenditures reaches $1 billion for the first time

2015

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ adopts an online electronic bid (e-bid) capability as a way to enhance industry access and allow the Corporation to manage the tendering process more accurately and efficiently from beginning to end. ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ begins by accepting e-bids for the procurement of goods and maintenance services, using the service provider MERX, an independent private sector tendering service. Using e-bids, contractors can submit their bid online, revise their bid at any time prior to tender close, upload their e-bid bond directly into the system, submit their bid security through an electronic fund transfer and receive a confirmation number once the e-bid is submitted.

2011

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ celebrates an enviable milestone: 60 years of success, growth, close partnerships and innovation. Employees take part in the year-long festivities by participating in a national virtual-birthday celebration; Build a Model and vintage photo contests; and presentation of a commemorative book created from a collection of employee and retiree anecdotes.

2005

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ broadens its lines of services and moves to a matrix approach for service line delivery. This new approach responds to DND’s needs by assembling teams that integrate the strengths from each of the service lines to get the job done, efficiently and effectively.

2001

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ celebrates its 50th anniversary with events at the national, region and local levels. Fifty years after the birth of Defence Construction a new Memorandum of Understanding between ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ and DND is signed.

1997

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ carries out research into cost recovery and billing methods and an agreement with the Assistant Deputy Minister Infrastructure and Environment changes the business model to a full fee-for-service approach. Budgetary appropriations are no longer required.

1993

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ replaces its old system of advertising proposed procurements in newspapers and trade journals with the Open Bidding Service database.

Mid-1990s

A government infrastructure reduction program triggers an increase and change in ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿â€™s business approach. Environmental services are now required in the demolition and site remediation of DND facilities and focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling.

1990

As a result of government reorganization, responsibility for ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ transfers from the Minister of Public Works to the Minister of Supply and Services. This is an interim step as the government moves toward amalgamating those two ministries into the Department of Public Works and Government Services.

1989

After years of maintaining its own inventory of consulting firms, ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ engineering staff works in conjunction with Public Works to develop a national consultant inventory and selection system, known as SPEC (Selection, Prequalification and Evaluation of Consultants).

1986

Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen, chair of the Ministerial Task Force on Program Review, a comprehensive assessment of all federal spending, reaffirms the value of Defence Construction Canada (ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿) as a Crown corporation and its relationship with the DND.

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿â€™s status as a Crown corporation is affirmed for an indefinite period and responsibility is transferred to the Minister of Public Works.

1980

The Federal Identity Program provides DCL with a new name – Defence Construction Canada / Construction de Défense Canada.

1965

Responsibility for DCL is transferred from the Minister of Defence Production to the Minister of National Defence. Accompanied by this transfer is a Memorandum of Understanding that forms a lasting joint venture between Defence Construction and DND.

1954

Cabinet approves the termination of the management agreement with CMHC.

1951

The charter for Defence Construction (1951) Limited is signed, creating a fully-fledged Crown corporation, pursuant to the Defence Production Act and operating as tendering and supervisory authority for the Department of National Defence’s (DND) construction requirements. The Corporation reports to the Minister of Defence Production.

1950

Defence Construction Limited (DCL) is created when Cabinet authorizes Wartime Housing Limited’s name change, providing the administrative structure on which to build DCL. Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is brought on board to be DCL’s operating and financial agent.