The most startling information in this account is that Queen Elizabeth is still officially the head of state.
15
Sell it and use the funds elsewhere. Problem solved.
7
Sometimes an expense like this needs to be taken care of out of a sense of national pride. As a G7 nation, Canada can certainly afford to have the official residence for its head of government be of high quality. It's obvious that hardly any money was spent on it for many years so the price tag is catching up for all that neglect. If I were PM I would insist that the house be taken care of as a symbol of the nation and vow not to move in myself so as to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest.
When Truman was President, the White House was in such bad shape that he moved out for four years. Everything but the exterior walls was gutted and rebuilt with historic things like fireplace mantels being carefully stored and put back in place. Perhaps such a gutting is required in Ottawa and might be less expensive. It would also provide the chance to re think the layout to provide for more appropriate dining rooms for both personal and official use.
Regardless of the specifics, they should get on with it. The PM of Canada represents one of the most respected, prosperous, and free nations in the world. His or her official residence should reflect that without apologies.
46
It’s beyond lame that its so far gone he cant live in it. I do appreciate that people are frugal but we need the best and most talented people looking to go into both politics and the civil service and having no perks as well as a non competitive salary doesn’t do anything to make that happen. Its not just the prime ministers office its everything in between as well. Let’s make the country proud and put 30 million into a brand new state of the art residence. That past is the past, especially with a building like this being to far gone.
27
Sell it.
3
This home is just fine for justin.
3
Knock it down.
11
Perhaps the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario should evaluate the architectural and historical value of the building--that's their specialty. It's rather a shame that the official residence of Prime Ministers should be given such shabby treatment.
30
I don't think the reluctance to spend money on the PM's residence is praiseworthy. it shows a lack of pride and self-respect, not frugality.
warren buffett living in a practical, modest home is good. warren buffet letting a car rot on his unmowed, overgrown lawn is bad. canadians are doing the latter with the PM's house.
39
This is nonsense! Letting the property fall into disrepair is a waste of money in its own right. The Canadian government should take better care of its citizens' properties.
32
God bless Canadians. Excuse me. God bless Canada. Sorry.
11
It was good enough for Prime Minister Harper. In fact, the Liberals objected to spending any money on it while he was in office. Now that the boy-prince is in all of a sudden it's important.
4
@Peter the article was written by the NYT and clearly states JT lives elsewhere. Obviously it's not that important....
25
Those crazy Canadians. This is the official home of the head of state and it is a reflection on CANADA, not the current office holder. Replace it, renovate it or build something daringly new. It doesn't really matter. But it should be a residence that CANADIANS can be proud of, so that their leader can welcome and entertain other heads of state.
38
@ksb36 Our head of state is the Queen, represented by the Governor General. The GG's official residence, Rideau Hall, is fabulous and, unlike 24 Sussex, was built to host official functions. Additionally, the previous government restored the stunning art deco Bank of Montreal (now the John A. Macdonald Building), a block from Parliament, to create a suitable space for events. The prime minister does not lack for spaces to host visitors.
27
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has spent 80 million U.S. taxpayer dollars on trips to golf courses in the first two years of his presidency.
Ethics shouldn't be just for Canadians.
64
most canadians disposed of the family china years ago..you are speaking of an era when children actually could follow in their parents' footsteps, entertaining legacies are long passe...there was only one generation that actually gave fabulous dinner parties to show off the silverware now its paper plates and plastic forks for everyone..it IS picnic time in Eureka's Castle
5
It looks like a beautiful place why not fix it to new standards and updates. Make it an example of make it better by not destroying it. Use donations or companies to show what they can do and get some free advertising out of it. Perhaps some multiuser themes. Donations from the people as it is their house? J. Katakowski
4
$23 million is Trump change. Trump would have renovated it at twice the cost and then spent twice that amount again on his golf outings to his own clubs. MCGA Make Canada Great Again.
13
Keep a couple walls of the old building as a nod to history- then tear down the rest of it and build a modern, efficient house, incorporating the old and the new. We need a proper Prime Minister's residence, not just a family home for the Trudeaus.
266
This PM is a joke, I know he grew up surrounded by opulence but his "subjects" have a hard enough time paying rent or mortgages, this is not a pressing requirement...first world problems.
4
What Kim Campbell said.......
Her view is held by other Canadians who say building an entirely new house would be cheaper than fixing up the old one. Supporters of designing a new home see a chance to showcase Canadian architecture and to highlight its indigenous heritage in a building that could also set a bar for environmental standards.
40
"“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “When you take a look at the ethical problems that occur around the world, I think the facts that this is something that a Canadian politician would shy away from is really a sign that Canadians do have their ethical priorities in shape.”
I think this stinginess is a little absurd. Canada is a wealthy, prosperous country and should be able to afford to have a decent residence for its Prime Minister. If Canadians were starving, then this would be another matter.
But a head of state of a normal Western country needs a secure residence that is comfortable, well maintained and pleasant to visit. This is where he might be hosting ambassadors, famous Canadians or perhaps world leaders in an intimate setting. This is not just his home. I believe money should be spent to renovate this building into a suitable home/official residence of the PM. That of course does not mean that money should be wasted or used for corrupt purposes...
10
"It would look as if they were spending money on themselves, a politically toxic step in Canada." It's reassuring that _somewhere_, decency still reigns... next door to us, in fact. Dear Canadians, please keep it this way, till we come to our senses...
26
Ottawa might take a cue from the just completed 2 year renovation of the executive residence in Springfield, Illinois after years of neglect. The $15 million renovation/restoration was completed entirely with private donations.
17
This place would be considered an Old Greenwich or Atherton tear down.
Rebuild with modern amenities, including security and alternative energy.
14
Tear it down and build not a residence but a place to hold formal functions of state. Whenever I started a new job the housing they provided was never mentioned.
3
Give visas leading to citizenship to workers who will come and repair it. They have to prove they have the skills and are not spies or criminals. That should do the trick since I wager you would have a sizable number of applicants moving fast to get that citizenship card.
3
We Canadians may have our "ethical priorities in shape", but as a taxpayer, I feel strongly that our Prime Minister and his family should not be forced to live in a dilapidated building, however beautiful. Spend the money to either tear it down and build new, (but not designed by Frank Gehry PLEASE), or renovate the place. $50 million is peanuts compared to the numerous silly programs our federal government currently throws money at. At least with the PM residence, we would have a a tangible outcome.
And I don't buy the argument that no politician in Canada would get away with this with the electorate. We aren't all a bunch of Methodists living in wooden shacks we built by hand.
67
These are small matters, but the Canadians have approached them and an extremely small way. Canada has to decide how to take care of such minor issues before they can hope to be seen as one of the great nations of the world.
4
They can't crowd-source a private fund to renovate the residence through private donations. 300,000 $100 donations would do it. Canada has a population of over thirty million.
3
Since Justin has been elected, I have been pestering his riding office and Heritage (who is charge of the place) to spend the money. The longer they leave it the more expensive it is going to be. For my fine American neighbour's reference here is a small list of financial boondoggles that make the renos of 24 Sussex look like an incidental car repair: 7 billion by Atomic Energy Canada to design a new reactor to replace the old Candu design (no joy in Mudville folks), 120 million in legal fees spent by the Harper Conservatives to keep Omer Khadr in Gitmo, 700 million in 1997 dollars to procure three aging British diesel electric submarines that we should have ran away from like that proverbial Brooklyn bridge (the Germans offered us brand new, state of the art for about the same price) and the list goes on. My complaints as a tax payer have either been ignored or blown off with 2,500 words of verbal diarrhea. We would have an easier time purchasing a Virginia class submarine from Electric Boat in Groton versus getting authorization to start the repairs.
15
I find our current and past governments' frugality admirable, but this has become embarrassing. I would not have a problem with our government paying to either renovate or build a habitable official residence for the Prime Minister.
19
To reno it - regardless of it's absolutely minor historical role - would be an absolute waste pf tax dollars. Just scrap it and build a new, modern green LEEDs style structure. Something hyper-effiicent that sends a message about where all housing development should be going - by law if need be - for the future.
358
@Sparky what about you shut down the White House to save money? How would you feel?
33
Tear it down, then hire some college students to come up with new designs, and hire more students to build it for course credit and stipends. You're training the next generation of builders, and they can have a source of pride in saying that they built the PM residence.
5
I think many Canadians want to think of us as innovative and this is an opportunity for us to be just that. Tear it down and build a new, modern structure showcasing green energy strategies, modern structural techniques and such. Make it entirely energy self sufficient. Use engineering that utilizes Canadian lumber and engineering. Make it a smart home. If all of this cost 20 million dollars it would be 20 million dollars of marketing and 20 million dollars of showcasing how smart Canadians are. The project would last 4 - 5 years and would be regularly in the news, promoting Canada. That is what we should do and we should get on with it as soon as possible.
56
My mother was a docent at the California State Capitol. A couple of decades ago, a very expensive restoration was done on the building. It is abolutely stunning, and something that makes Californians proud; they forget all the wrangling about money now. And, I have also toured the Governor's Mansion. It is a more modest woodframe house than Canada's stone building, but still a source of great pride. Canadians should think beyond dollars and cents.
28
The situation with 24 Sussex is a microcosm of the entire political problem of elected officials only making policy based on what will get them re-elected and neglecting the hard choices that can preserve the basic infrastructure and financial solvency of the nation. Until that infrastructure is way to costly to fix and is crumbling into the water.
15
On Monday October 21st 2019, a new PM will be elected. Trudeau will have to try to find something to do with his privileged life. As for 24 Sussex, who cares? Let the political party pay for a house for their leader, not the taxpayers.
Skiplusse, why on earth should a single political party have to pay for the renovation of the prime minister’s home? Do you realize that parties come in and out of power? 38 mill would make benefit all future prime ministers...
24
It makes little sense to renovate a building when a new one would cost less. The building has little sentiment or history attached to it other than it is older. Additionally it sounds like the building does not meet the needs of current Prime Ministers so build one that does. As an aside, with any luck the Conservatives will never have to worry about what to do with the house - they won't have a PM that needs a residence.
23
Was this article written purely to poo-poo Trudeau's southern counterpart? I'm all for it regardless. Building a new residence to showcase a modern Canada is an excellent idea.
22
Any head of government is entitled to a residence without the absurdity of having to pay rent. The house should be made comfortable for the PM's family and reflect some elements of Canada's culture and history. Quibbling over cost is rooted in the lowest form of political hypcrisy.
446
In his first mandate, President Truman was told that the White House was not suitable anymore. Well President Truman acted on it.They reconstructed the inside from scratch. They should do the same with 24 Sussex and the politicians should stop doing cheap politics about it and solve the problem once for all as Truman did.
188
@Wilbray Thiffault I like a lot of things that Truman did, but his "gut renovation" of the White House destroyed a lot of historical material and would hardly be the way an historic structure of that importance would be renovated today. BTW Ottawa doesn't have a lot of 1860s structures surviving anyway, I'd think there would be a strong consensus to preserve this on purely architectural historical grounds...
24
I don't see this as spending on oneself if the Prime Minister tries to get bipartisan support for either renovating or rebuilding the residence. Justin Trudeau or the next few prime ministers are unlikely to ever live there. Government projects take for ever.
5
Every Prime Minister has avoided the necessary upgrades to the official residence for our Prime Minister because of the fear of backlash from the Opposition and taxpayers. But, I do think the place should be either renovated or torn down and rebuilt - probably much cheaper to tear it down and build something new.
7
I admire (and practice) thrift, and despise conspicuous consumption. However, if one agrees heads of state should be housed in official housing meant to entertain international officials, this dilemma is beyond ludicrous, it's ridiculous (yes, there's a difference).
Truly, we can no longer think or argue rationally. Trudeau's fear of being pilloried is accurate, no matter how outrageous - because everything and everyone is a now a soundbite incapable of understanding complexity.
If Canada wants to be a country without an official head of state building, and decide so by referendum or other means, so be it. But to watch this historic building rot simply because of weakness and paralysis is beyond pathetic. Canadians, please don't fall victim to current American discourse!
37
Wonder if it would work to fund it via indiegogo, gofundme or other campaign. That way one could solve the problem of 'government funding'. That the house is not used does not mean it is costing nothing to do some amount of upkeep.
2
Honestly, those curtains alone render the place uninhabitable.
74
If the government owns it and all PM's are meant to live there how is it spending on ones self?
To my eye all whom have not fixed it have been wasting the people's money on staffing it and protecting it and adding to the eventual expense of demolition or repair by political cowardice driven neglect.
25
Dear Canadian Brothers and Sisters,
For 24 Sussex Drive renovated or built anew, finance it with private donations following the examples of the Reagan and Clinton approach to the needs of the White House or the Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty restoration project. Furnishings could be on loan just like Jackie O so memorably accomplished in the '60s.
Good Luck!
A Fervent Maple Leaf Admirer.
20
@JK - Reflecting off of two really bad examples of American incompetence and malfeasance do not honor your friends (& mine) up North.
5
Quite a contrast to the obscene Trump lifestyle.
Canada looks better all the time - national healthcare program, liberal government, friendly, low violence population, legal pot, etc. etc. America could learn a lot from Canada. I was in Toronto about ten years ago. I had dinner at a little pub, Allen's, and the owner, John Maxwell, was about the friendliest, yet most sophisticated, restaurateur, I have ever met.
537
@Paul Shindler
Spoken by someone looking over the fence and the grass only seeming greener. Canada's health care is abysmal and getting worse all the time. You know what it's good for? Small stuff. Family doctor getting prescriptions. Emergency room visits for broken bones and stitches, that sort of thing. Anything more serious and you're in trouble people wait 3-6 months for anything more serious to be seen by a specialist - if they're lucky. It's years in many cases. More and more Canadians don't even have a family doctor anymore because of the shortage of them - average wait to find one? About 5 years. Canada's health care system isn't remotely close to what Americans have access to the only difference is that it's cheaper and more easily accessed by the lower tiers of society.
Liberal government? Corrupt as any other. Maybe you just missed the last election in Ontario but the Liberal party was literally destroyed - they lost so badly they've lost official party status in parliament. Trudeau will lose as badly in the next federal election because of his corruption, mismanagement, and poor leadership.
Legal pot? It's legal in 10 states now and won't be long before that's pretty much a national reality there.
Canada could learn a lot from America.
Yeah, Allen's on the Danforth. That's because John is a rich man who owns a nice place in one of Toronto's nicest areas. You'll find no shortage of places like that anywhere on earth where moneyed people congregate.
21
@Sparky
Legal in Blue states, yes. Legal federally? Not in our lifetimes. Demon weed! Leads to heroin! OMG!
35
Someone who does not like Canada, and has all their facts wrong.
1) Polls have consistently shown for decades that Canadians overwhelmingly support their public their health care system.
2) In a September, 2018, study for Ontario, 95% of cardiac patients were treated within the target time. For instance, study showed cardiac patients who should be treated within a target time of 7 days waited on average 1 day.
3) October Ipsos poll put Trudeau's Liberals at 36 per cent support compared to 35 per cent for the Conservatives
@Sparky
191
Just a thought totally out of left field...public museum and park. Canadian companies can help sponsor the renovations and the facilities to be enjoyed by all.
8
Let Canada Council for the Arts select artists to move in and turn it into a vibrant place where Trudeau and others will want to live. This is how NYC became a great place to live today.
1
Oh Canada, I admire you.
If only the United States has such controversies and problems! I envy your simplicity.
86
24 Sussex only became public property because the federal government expropriated it in the 1940s to consolidate its control of land along the Ottawa River. The house just happened to come with the land so, after spending a few years wondering what to do with it (and also fighting the owner's appeal against the expropriation), the government decided to turn it into the PM's residence. It does not have a long and storied history and, bluntly, doesn't occupy the public imagination the way the White House does. Meanwhile, Rideau Hall is very much a "state" building with large reception and dining rooms. I say we rebuild it as a family home with perhaps space for small events.
26
@Judy Rideau Hall is the Governor General's office residence. Unless Canada abolishes it's ties to the British monarchy it is not available as a home for the Prime Minister. The second building, Rideau Cottage, is to small to function as an official residence. 24 Sussex must be renovated or torn down and re-built.
11
@Lorne It appears we agree. Rideau Hall is available for state functions and the PM lives elsewhere. My suggestion was to continue the current practice of holding official events at Rideau Hall (or the Sir John A. Macdonald Building) and build the PM a new family home.
7
Amusing debate, eh?
Considering all the looting that happens in the background, what's 38 million dollars, really?
Paul Martin, I believe, makes a good case for preservation. It's part of Canadian history, good or bad.
But rather than dipping into the "public" purse, why not have all the wealthy politicians, present and past, donate to the cause? They owe it to Canada.
7
This is such an unrealistic and nonsensical idea, I just wanted to let you know
7
@f tombs
Thank you. Appreciate it.
Maybe eccentric billionaires can finance it? Lord knows they've been known to finance nonsensical ideas greater than the one I propose here.
3
There seems to be something...off kilter...with a country determined to be seen in its own light rather than a shadow of the U.S, but so frugal (aka, stingy) it forces it’s Prime Minister to have meals cooked in one residence and hauled over to his ordinary house. It says to me there is a certain lack of respect, a certain deliberate downgrading of the incredibly important job of governing that vast expanse called Canada.
It can’t be just about money. Canadian companies are down here, proposing pipelines, buying up our public land leases for exploration....and yet the national budget presumably can’t invest in providing a modern, respectable residence for their PM?
I guess I thought they’d have managed something between Buckingham Palace and a log cabin by now. Respect yourselves- renovation or new- surely you can do better than this indecision and outdated ....modesty.
52
@Jo Williams It's not about frugality -- as you point out, the Canadian government spends hundreds of millions on infrastructure every year -- it's about perception. This is our version of a political football.
Unlike Trump, who has repeatedly used his office to feed his family's fortune, a Canadian politician would be pilloried for spending lavishly on themselves. (A Canadian politician once caused a scandal by charging a $16 glass of orange juice to taxpayers). In Canada, public money is supposed to be spent on the public, and when it's not, it's seen as a huge misstep (Trudeau's trip to India, for example). Our system is not perfect, but what you see as quaint, outdated, and falsely "modest" problem is actually just a way of holding politicians accountable for their actions.
And, perhaps, this debate demonstrates a bit of our national psyche -- unlike Americans, who obsess over the concept of individual freedom above all else, Canadians are more likely to consider how individual actions affect society as a whole. It's not a bad way to live. (Perhaps your administration should try it!).
94
Holmes will take care of that thing for half that amount...
3
I dislike the Liberals and the Trudeaus but I'd have to agree with Justin on this one. No wonder he and his family want to live somewhere else. Time for a new residence, equipped with extensive security, modern communications, comforts of home, proper heating, regardless as to which leaderless federal party gets into power next year.
12
Canada is the tear down capital of the world, especially Vancouver. The mansion itself is ugly, so it would make sense to tear it down and build a state of the art, energy efficient building that deals with all of the needs of a head of state. My only concern is with the architecture. A head of state needs a stately home, and as comments here suggest, decisions in Canada take a long time to make and always end in compromise, so I worry about what it will look like. Canada is not noted for it's beautiful architecture and usually doesn't hold up over time.
6
@thewriterstuff
And Canadians may be rightly very concerned that they will get something that looks like the new (1989) Canadian embassy in Washington, DC, designed by Canada's then-starchitect (and very good friend of Pierre Trudeau) Arthur Erickson.
1
This is why I love Canada!
15
You gotta love Canada, where they err on the side of frugality.
26
Absolutely ridiculous false modesty. The head of a G7 country should have a residence that reflects his or her importance. Likewise, U.S. cabinet secretaries should fly first class in the front of the plane - even Trump's people. You want people to assume great responsibility, then treat them with respect that a corporate CEO has. While it makes great "gotcha news," the costs are actually minuscule. For us, we could forgo one F35 and probably have enough money to cover air travel for the next 50 years. It's amazing how the petty and unimportant stuff gets such press while the true issues are obscured.
44
@Warren All good points and many Canadians, including myself, agree with you. If there was a nation-wide vote, the majority would side with renovating or rebuilding the official residence. Unfortunately, the politicians here have been burned in the past for "extravagant" spending and no Prime Minister wants to be the one who pulls the trigger on spending millions of $$ to make himself and his family more comfortable.
8
Warren: your comment highlights the differences between Canada and the U.S.
5
Meanwhile south of the border, the American taxpayers have paid for the Trump's White House "improvements" after he bemoaned that the building Barack and Michelle Obama called home was so dilapidated he needed to upgrade it.
But that was only the beginning. We also paid for extraordinarily high security while Melania at first decided to stay in New York. We also shell out for Trump's weekly trips to Mar-a-Lago or his golf clubs, where he holds official functions like state visits. Here, he is racking in double the income since the taxpayers pay for him (plus the meals, the entertainment, etc), and the visiting delegation pay his property for their stay as well. Wait, did I say double? My bad. He and Melania refuse to share a hotel room. So tack that onto our bill as well.
This sensitivity of the Canadians just underscores the insanity of us funding the grifter-in-chief. I would be enormously grateful to the Times if they did an investigation and compared the first two years in office of Trump and his predecessors and what the taxpayers shell out for this incessant vacation and money making schedule.
197
If only Congress were as frugal as Canadians ... instead the US government is $21 trillion in debt.
23
I'm surprised the author didn't mention the sad saga of a former conservative cabinet minister ( Bev Oda) who was litterally hounded out of office by the opposition ( liberal) for the heinous crime of paying $16 for a glass of orange juice at a swank London hotel while on official government business.
It reminds me of the old adage: what's the difference between a Canadian and a canoe ? A canoe tips !
12
@David
Wikipedia's page for Bev Oda has more information on the incident, with footnotes to the original news stories. It appears that both you and Bev Oda did not mention ALL of the costs paid for by the taxpayers.
She spent $665 per night for 3 nights to stay at the Savoy instead of staying at the conference hotel, hired a limo to transport her at a cost of almost $1,000 per day, and paid a $250 penalty for smoking in a non-smoking hotel room. These were all initially paid for by Canadian taxpayers.
After Bev Oda left office, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation awarded her a "Lifetime Achievement Teddy" for waste, noting "After expensing chauffeured limousines in cities from Halifax to London England, expensing two luxury hotels in London on the same nights, ordering $16 glasses of orange juice, and charging taxpayers for an air purifier so she could smoke in her office, the former Harper cabinet minister left office, with only her $52,000 annual Parliamentary pension to comfort her for the rest of her life."
28
For a country with only 36 million people Trudeau's home is just fine.
5
@Rudolf It's not the size; it's the fact that it's falling apart and needs renovation.
6
@rudolf
Haven't you learned?
Size is not everything, sir.
4
Parliamentarians would do well to observe that official residences are also needed for functions and entertaining dignitaries and heads of state. They are a symbol of national power and confidence in the world. To let Canada’s first address drift into oblivion is not a conscious vote for an emboldened future. It is a government building not a personal one. 24, Sussex should be retained, renovated and celebrated. There are plenty pots to pay for it from lottery grants to heritage awards. Or is it a deeper case of low self-esteem in the world and a rejection of hierarchy? Many nations “clock” the trappings of power to place you in the world’s pecking order. We might not agree, but it’s the truth and widespread in the Middle East and the Far East. You can still live in the official mansion and champion the poor. Infact every so often you invite round medal winners and people who have made a difference. Even Nelson Mandela moved into Genadendal Residence in 1994 when elected President of South Africa. This is a sad state of affairs.
150
@The Oculist it is that Canadians are obscenely critical of their governments and their spending. No nonsense, no fun, nothing elaborate, and you better do the bets job possible... That's why while the entire world paints a rosy picture of Trudeau, here at home all I hear is criticism of his life style and the way he dresses, etc... It's problematic because we lose sight of the long term vision of what government is doing when we are only considered the nitpicking and day to day critical politicking
37
@The Oculist official residences are only "a symbol of national power and confidence" if you need that sort of prop. A good example, Warren Buffet's residence.
"low self esteem in the world"? Perhaps it's humility.
As far as nations that "clock the trappings of power to place you in the world's pecking order", who needs to impress people that use such superficial means to decide whether they should talk to you. Do you look for Burberry and John Lobb marques before deciding to befriend someone?
Every nation is different.
13
Apologies, Warren Buffett.
8
Housing the leader of your nation isn't an extravagance, it's a reflection on the national character. It's cheap and petty for Canadians to begrudge any PM, regardless of party a comfortable home suitable for entertaining world leaders.
61
This is incredible to me. After Pierre Trudeau was replaced as Canadian PM there were similar complaints by his successors... it's surprising to see normally thrifty Canadians let this decay when proper maintenance would have helped prevent or reduce costs.
The Canadian government needs to include maintenance of 25 Sussex and the opposition leaders' house in the budget - probably as a part of funding for national parks or museums. Maybe allow guided tours of public space or gardens on a periodic basis as an additional source of funds.
18
Nows your chance Justin... reclaim the land in an environmentally friendly manner, be sure to relocate the squirrels and earthworms without disturbing their breeding habits and build a carbon free, low cost, zero energy consuming green house that will be an example to all.
Lead by example.
8
Every time I return to my hometown, Toronto, I am amazed to see that beautiful historic buildings are no longer there, or just their front facade remains..replaced by nondescript condo high-rises. It seems that Canada is on a tear to tear down gorgeous buildings or alter them beyond recognition.. One day they will regret this. In 24 Sussex I see a beautiful stone residence worthy of restoration..
38
It makes sense to tear it down and build a new house. It could be done for much less than the $24 million. I gather, however, from comments of our Canadian friends, that they have trouble making decisions. So, it sounds like nothing will happen.
9
@LM
"They" have trouble making decisions? This is the pot calling the kettle black.
14
Agree. The whole thing strikes me as penny wise and dollar foolish. A newly built residence would likely save money in the long run.
6
@Christian this is the perfect example...it is not 'penny wise' in canada...it is 'nickel wise' k
2
You should see the Ottawa embassy of the Vatican-- a chic pseudo-baroque palace on a leafy street. Logically, that should be expropriated, and the nuncio, asked to take a room at a local monastery.
33
@Carling You cannot expropriate what is essentially sovereign soil of the Vatican state. I agree with the suggestion that 24 Sussex Dr. be torn down and replaced with a modern structure that is both efficient in it's design and operation and secure from threats. On the other hand, it can be argued that the Governor General is a vestigial role that should be ended and Rideau Hall made the official residence of the Prime Minister. At the very least, move the GG to the "cottage" and let's get real about who the "head of state" is in Canada.
26
@Meusbellum There are probably 5 abandoned monasteries and 10 abandoned convents within an 80-km radius of Ottawa, plus 1 million sq. meters of abandoned churches. Nice new places for an embassy. I am sure the Pope won't mind.
18
@Carling The Vatican is only a reminder of the shame of all mankind who allowed it not only to use old buildings as dungeons and horrible confinements to orphans and unsuspecting children, but allowed the tiny nation to even stand is to all nations of the world's shame. A tiny army of past vicitms of the pope is all it would take to transfer all that to new owners..where are the mentings who could do it...it would be more proper to talk about tearing down the vatican than to even discuss any other human family's crumbling houses...when is the last time you fixed a neighbours roof bud...or even thought about taking over all that church property by just one visit to the vatican...you are way off topic if you think the children are not going to inherit church lands...canada housing predators...is not the subject ..it is what manthing even deserves a home when all men have denied chidlren their inheritences
1
Good article, but it might have mentioned that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's house in Ottawa is now a museum open to the public. Sir Wilfrid's widow left it in her will to William Lyon Mackenzie King, who succeeded Sir Wilfrid as leader of the Liberal Party and was Canada's longest-serving prime minister. After King's death in 1950 it became a museum
19
Given the utter dominance of Canadian renovation shows on channels like DIY or HGTV, a reality show is the way to go. Let Mike Holmes or the Property Brothers have a crack at it!
35
@AstuteI agree...... it's not rocket science, although I admire their frugality and sensitivity to their people....BUT...your residence really should reflect the office of which you hold. It should demand respect, not ridicule. A lot of the DIY and HGTV shows ARE shot in Canada so, yeah, give it to the Property Brothers.
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There are so many subjects to cover about Canada. This falls into the Bottom 10. The PM has a place to live with his family that's "good enough" on the grounds of the Governor General's residence. Most Canadians would love that kind of place to live.
Please write about something relevant.
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@Maurice Gatien...I hear you, BUT, what good is your place if its literally falling apart at the seams? Not a good look for a PM.
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Modesty. How un-American.
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$28.7 million? That's less than half of what the US taxpayers have spent on Trump's golf outings so far. Seems like a relative bargain to me!
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@SIF: $28.7 million to renovate a house is an extremely inflated figure. It's not in NYC.
They could tear down the present structure and build a new one for that amount.
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Canadian politics is as weird as American politics, but in the opposite direction.
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"Mr. Trudeau pays for his food, internet service and a caregiver for his children." Perhaps he would be envious if someone told him how much American taxpayers have spent for Trump's golf trips to Mar-a-Lago, and visits to his private properties while president.
Not to mention the level of corruption inside the Washington swamp (cesspool) as Trump, his family and his aides line their own pockets at taxpayer's expense.
By comparison, Trudeau look like a regular St. Francis of Assisi.
How envious we would be if the only Trump and his corrupt court
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@JHM...I'm thinking that the Canadian PM would look good in our WH, yes? Then, lets send 45 to Canada....permanently.
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@nyc2char
"lets send 45 to Canada....permanently."
NO THANK YOU! If anything, you could ship him to either Scotland or Germany; his mum was Scottish and his grandpa was German so they'd have first dibs.
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@JHM: the American President pays for his own food -- his personal meals and that of his family -- obviously the White House budget covers things like state dinners. And the President pays for his own child care. The Obama's moved in Mrs. Robinson (Michelle's mom) to care for Sasha and Malia when young in 2008.
I can't answer about the wi fi, but what with security concerns....I am not sure I want my President (or PM) choosing some discount no-name provider that cannot be properly secured!
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As noted, Canadian politicians do have ethical priorities. Quite unlike the current occupant of the White House.
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Thr PM residence is a national embarrassment; it is taking frugality to the extreme. I strongly believe that the government should spend the $24 million to tear down and build a new home. Looking at the photos, I also would not want to at Sussex. Shameful that this has gone on so long.
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@Rashid I disagree, the house is not suitable for use as neither a residences for the PM or to host ceremonial duties. Tear it down and build a better residence with up to date features and make it a showcase of green technology. While I think we should never lose our connection with the past, beating a dead horse is both cruel and stupid.
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@Rashid I agree. This is taking frugality to the point of stupidity. An all-party committee should be established to decide what to do. That would allow progress to be made while not allowing any party to blame the other! This could be an opportunity to create an innovative, environmentally friendly official residence.
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The official Prime Minister’s house on Sussex Drive was not purpose built and other than being old is rather an ugly mansion.
Calls to tear it down and build a state of the art dwelling in its stead I think would be the best and most economical solution.
A focus on Canadian design with references to the peoples of Canada along with cutting edge technology and mechanicals would create a showplace that would be liveable and architecturally significant.
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A couple of comments -
1. How quaint that some of my fellow Canadians were outraged at the $1100 fee to set up the Trudeau's play structure. Try paying for all of DJT's golf outings! That should inspire true outrage.
2. It would be a wonderful opportunity to have an innovative environmentally sound residence designed and built by Canadians. Please House of Commons and PM Trudeau, give that serious consideration.
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@KO: it's not the amount, it's that Trudeau paid $5000 or so for the structure itself, then refused to pay to install it -- why? I suppose he wants to take it with him when he leaves office?
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He should ask parliament to set up a non-partisan commission to make recommendations. If it is important to Canadian heritage it should be saved. If not, tear it down or sell it. If it is saved, it will likely be finished after Trudeau is out of office.
It is ridiculous that there is no proper home for the PM.
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Americans who think this is an easy problem to solve don't understand the lengths Canadians embrace to avoid making decisions. It took Canada about 20 years to replace obsolete Sea King helicopters, and its been talking for 15 vears on a replacement for its F 18s. Canada has now purchased some used F 18s from Australia, but is still paying into the F 35 program. Debates to revitalize the Toronto waterfront went on 20 years; and several debates about options to expand local mass transit have taken more turns than can be believed, including the mothballing of a subway tunnel that was almost complete. Canada even debated changing one sexist word in its national anthem for about 40 years, but could not bring itself to remove the word "god". Polite - yes. Decisive - not if it coats a penny.
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It appears that the people who leave comments think that only rich people should be candidates for office. I think that is very sad. Public service is hard work and should receive compensation.
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Whether you agree with Trudeau's politics or not, it must be wonderful having a leader that doesn't make you visibly cringe every time he tweets or opens his mouth.
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@Ford313 : We should all know that Canada is meaningless in world politics.
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@Ford313
Actually, he does, just in other ways. Kind of like when commenters change the subject wholesale because they don’t have the capacity to stay on topic.
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@chiliyo It will be long remembered that Prime Minister Trudeau paid honour to the fallen from WWI at the centenary commemorations in France by furling his umbrella and standing in the pouring rain in solidarity with all those who suffered in the mud and weather all those years ago. A little rain did not deter him.
We here way down under noticed and applaud Justin Trudeau for his example - a unique North American leader. Well done Sir!
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Our PM deserves a proper home, and 24 Sussex Dr. is a historical part of Canada and should be renovated and house the PM and his family.
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Renovating it through a TV show would probably save money and avoid political issues.
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@Anonymous A Go Fund Me? If Canadians feel strongly about renovating the property without using taxpayer dollars (something we in the US would NEVER do), then they should use other options available.
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No Canadian Prime minister will touch fixing up this residence with a 10 ft. pole, as they say. The Nanny state drumbeat only includes spending on welfare, when either parties politicians run for office . Especially Trudeau. He could afford to fix up the residence with his own inheritance, but again it wouldn't be consistent with his image.
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Trudeau is not that wealthy. This isn't the US (nor Palm Beach for that matter). They aren't Kennedys or Trumps. Trudeau wouldn't even qualify for Trump's cabinet based on the non-outrageous size of his bank accounts.
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@Dan Green Why should he fix up a government residence with his own money? I'm flabbergasted over your response. Trump is supposedly a billionaire (although I think that's one of his many lies) but I don't expect him to foot the bill to renovate any portion of the White House.
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@Dan Green - Why would Justin Trudeau fix up the official Prime Minister's residence, owned by the people of Canada, out of his own pocket? It's not as if he could afford to do this anyway - his inheritance from his father's estate in 2000 amounted to $1.2 million Cdn - nothing to sneer at, but hardly the enormous fortune his detractors allege.
While his wealth has likely grown in the years since, he would hardly be able to spend $30 million to rebuild 24 Sussex Drive. Nor should he be expected to.
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One can only admire Canada's frugality regarding spending on their politicians. US taxpayers funded Trump's $1.75 million White House renovation consisting mostly of rugs, furniture, wallpaper, and wall-hangings (with some HVAC updates to lend credibility to the project.) Chump change for Trump, especially if it's on someone else's dime, but real money to Canadians.
Meanwhile, as of Sep2018, Trump had spent over $300K on golf cart rentals.
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One of the reasons I'm proud to be Canadian!
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@Liz You're proud to be a Canadian because no one is willing to take responsibility to renovate or build a new prime minister's residence to replace one that is falling apart and filled with asbestos? I don't follow your logic. This structure, besides being a residence for the prime minister of Canada is supposed to host state events but instead its falling into ruin. If Canada was tiny third world country, I could understand the prime minister living in their own house but Canada is neither tiny, poor or a Soviet state where each 'comrade' is supposed to have the same living standard, which to my knowledge has never existed anywhere in any country.
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And how has Canada suffered for this? Not one iota that I can see.
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@Liz ...and at this point I'm envious! Trump and the Repubs have given the U.S. a worse reputation than
Russia and China as partners for the future.
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Such a paltry problem! — At least when one compares the spendthrift American president’s vast expenditures on golf trips, etc. This story points up nothing so much as the good sense of Canadians. My fondest wish is that we here in the US were as concerned with reining in expenses.
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Not to presume, as I'm not Canadian, but couldn't the Prime Minister and Parliament fund a multi-year refurbishment plan that would be expected to be completed after the PM's term in office was over, with a pledge from the PM that s/he would not move into the house should s/he be reëlected?
This would be analogous to the US Constitutional prohibition on Congressional salary increases applying to the current members of Congress.
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