I wonder about the long term savings of closing a major base such as Borden, or even of reducing it to an ASU Det to support reserve training. On the plus side, the population would drop dramatically, both the permanent staff and the trainees and PATs, etc. However, there would be a requirement for these peoples and their families to go somewhere and to operate and be supported when they get there.
Borden may be many things, but one thing that it is not, and that is remote. Some of the schools could go to places like Kingston and Winnipeg, but there is only so much space. I guess Valcartier or St Jean also are options, but again major construction would be required. Maybe major construction could be postponed, if empty barrack blocks could be converted into classrooms and offices. This was done in 1970 when the Combat Arms School and the Canadian Forces School of Artillery were consolidated in Gagetown. It was hardly morale building to lok up from one's desk to see the marks on the wall where the plumbing for urinals, toilets, sinks and showers was capped, as what had been latrines were converted to other purposes. In fact, despite a stated CF policy that building new accommodation at CTC was the number one priority, it was not until decades later that the project was finally implemented. False economy, I guess.