Government to Announce Restoration of 24 Sussex Drive
OTTAWA — The Carney government will announce Friday that it plans to “restore” 24 Sussex Dr., ending a decade-old mystery about the future of the prime minister’s official residence. The residence has been uninhabited for about 11 years due to an array of problems with the home, including heating and cooling, outdated wiring, asbestos, water damage, mould, rodents, and more practical problems such as insufficient space for offices and events.
Heritage Advocates Cheer, but Some Officials Suggest New Build
While heritage advocates will cheer the announcement to renovate and perhaps expand the home, some officials familiar with the stone mansion’s challenges suggested it would be better to simply build a new leader’s residence on a different site. Prime Minister Mark Carney had been asked Thursday during a press conference what he’d like to see happen to the residence, and responded that was one subject that he wouldn’t discuss until the next day. “Great question,” Carney told reporters. “I’ll have a press conference tomorrow to answer that.” A media advisory later in the day said Carney planned to make an announcement Friday morning about the government’s decision to “restore” the residence.
Historic Significance and Public Sentiment
The decision will no doubt please many history and heritage buffs, not to mention Canadians who view the home as one of the country’s most famous sites. In a letter to Carney last fall, Katherine Spencer-Ross, president of Heritage Ottawa, wrote that 24 Sussex is a special historic site and is worth a full rehabilitation. The residence is one of a suite of buildings — including the Parliament buildings — designed in the gothic revival style, she wrote. “24 Sussex is not just any home. It is a nationally significant place that belongs to all Canadians, not to a prime minister nor to any political party.”
Location Advantages and Current Living Arrangements
But advocates have also argued that the home is part of Canadian history and has inherent advantages, including its location overlooking the Ottawa River that is picturesque and carries security advantages. It’s also just a couple of kilometres from Parliament Hill. The 35-room mansion served as the prime minister’s official residence from 1951 to 2015 and apparently will return to service after its lengthy renovation. Carney, like Trudeau, has lived at Rideau Cottage, across the road from 24 Sussex on the grounds of the Governor General’s residence at Rideau Hall. Built in the late 1860s, it didn’t become the prime minister’s home for almost a century. It was closed by the National Capital Commission in 2022 for “health and safety reasons,” including an infestation of rats.
Remaining Questions on Scope of Renovation
The big remaining question is whether the government decides to complete a modest renovation that makes the building functional for future prime ministers, or whether it plans to create something more elaborate that serves as a national showpiece.
