Five steps to ensure 24 Sussex revamp is done right | Opinion

Prime Minister Mark Carney has signalled his government will revamp 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. Photo by TONY CALDWELL /POSTMEDIA

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It’s ironic that the first owner of 24 Sussex, lumber baron Joseph Merrill Currier, called the house Gorffwysfa, which means “place of peace” in Welsh. With rodents, asbestos and bad wiring, the 24 Sussex of today seems less like a place of peace and more like a cross between a handyman special and a tear-down.

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So, the prime minister lives at Rideau Cottage — an ancillary building at Rideau Hall, which was constructed as a residence for the secretary to the Governor General. While perfectly fitting for this purpose, this stopgap housing arrangement for the prime minister has seemingly become the status quo. It was an embarrassment in 2023 that then prime minister Justin Trudeau received then U.S. president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in such modest digs, particularly given the American ambassador’s grand mansion nearby.

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And 24 Sussex has been managed poorly for decades. Governments have been reluctant to spend money on it for fear of public and opposition criticism. Grand renovations like U.S. President Donald Trump’s ballroom and his gold plating of the Oval Office rightly offend Canadian sensibilities, but we should be equally appalled that 24 Sussex lies derelict. Successive Liberal and Conservative governments have behaved like condominium boards that have deferred necessary maintenance and repairs until massive special assessments loom ever closer. That time is now, and it comes with a big bill.

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Here are five steps his government should take.

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Stop with the indecision

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First, just make a decision and stop the endless buck passing between the National Capital Commission, Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Prime Minister’s Office on whether to replace or renovate the existing residence at 24 Sussex Drive, or move to another property in nearby Rockcliffe Park, and make upgrades to Rideau Cottage.

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Let history be your guide

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Second, 24 Sussex has been the official home of Canada’s prime ministers for the last 75 years. It’s a symbol of our national institutions that Canadians relate to. So, let’s build on that history rather than jettisoning it by considering Rideau Cottage or moving next door to a foreign embassy in Rockcliffe.

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Make it holistic

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The prime minister’s residence is a multi-functional space with unique requirements. In determining the best path forward for 24 Sussex, the official residence has to meet today’s security standards for the head of government of a G7 country. It requires adequate space to welcome foreign dignitaries and high-profile domestic gatherings.

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It must have modern working areas where the prime minister can meet with staff, and there should be comfortable living quarters for the prime minister and his or her family.

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Let the public into the process

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Rather than working on renewal plans secretively in government offices, set up an official residence advisory board composed of Canada’s leading architects to advise on whether a renovation or new build is best given the requirements.