While it took the federal government more than a decade to devise a plan for the future of the prime minister's official residence, the online path to raise private money for 24 Sussex Dr. got off the ground within a single working day.
Donation site launched quickly
By midday Monday, the foundation running the government's efforts to collect donations for the renovation of the 35-room stone mansion had already added a donation path to its website. The Rideau Hall Foundation did not immediately return calls from National Post, but the Canadian Press reported that the site had already raised more than $100,000 towards the renovation project. The average donation, the report said, was about $257.
Government announces renovation competition
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the government's intention Friday to launch an open competition for bids to renovate the historic home, which has been vacant for 11 years. The announcement ended a big part of the decade-old mystery about the future of the prime minister's official residence, which had been plagued by an array of problems: heating and cooling, outdated wiring, asbestos, water damage, mould, rats, and insufficient space for offices and events.
Fundraising rules and ethical concerns
Carney said the foundation, a non-partisan charity that aims to support national programming in learning, leadership, and community building, would lead the fundraising effort and establish most of the rules for ethical questions. When asked about the potential for the fundraising effort opening the government up to possible ethical or conflict breaches, Carney said it's unlikely that corporate donations or those worth more than 10 per cent of the project's value would be accepted.
The foundation's website, however, does not yet appear to offer filters to prevent such donations, or at least easy ways around those principles. Another filter promised by Carney, that only Canadians can donate, presumably to eliminate the risk of foreign interference, appears to be relying on the honor system, asking donors to confirm that they're 'a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident.' The site allows for donations to be made in dozens of currencies, including American dollars, Russian rubles and Chinese yuan.
Advocates raise concerns
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, which advocates for democratic reform, said the process has not so far closed all the ethical loopholes, despite already being open for donations. An individual corporate leader or a corporate-affiliated foundation, for example, could make a hefty donation, Conacher said, as a front for a business seeking influence or trying to curry favour. Only legislation would make the rules legally binding, he added.
Heritage advocates react
Heritage advocates cheered last week's announcement to renovate and perhaps expand the historic home, but some argued that the government should just pay the bill, instead of trying to raise money to help shrink the costs to taxpayers.
