OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Blair Crawford
“Embarrassing.” A “trainwreck.” “Political paralysis.”
A National Capital Commission board member minced no words Wednesday when warning about the decrepit state of 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister’s official residence. A report on the six official residences the NCC manages lists 24 Sussex as the one most critically in need of repair. It says the commission needs to spend $17.5 million a year for the next decade to pay for nearly $90 million in deferred maintenance and to bring it and the other buildings up to snuff.
“It’s stating the obvious to say this is a delicate file,” said lawyer and board member Michael Foderick at Wednesday’s meeting. “There’s a measure of political paralysis with this government and with the last government. I think we forget we’re talking about some of the most cherished public assets of the highest national significance.”
Since the last report on official residences in 2018, the buildings have continued to deteriorate with only 24 per cent rated in “good” condition compared to 34 per cent three years ago. Although the NCC has poured $26 million into the repairs since 2018, the cost of deferred maintenance has grown by about $6 million.
At 24 Sussex, building systems can no longer be maintained and require immediate replacement, the report says. The electrical system poses a fire hazard, the plumbing fails on a regular basis and the interior is rife with mould, asbestos and lead.
It’s been 60 years since the last significant refit at 24 Sussex. Built in 1867, the 34-room mansion has served as the PM’s official residence since 1951. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has chosen to live with his family across the road at Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall although 24 Sussex is still used for workspace by household staff.
At a minimum, the house requires abatement of hazardous materials, fixes to the building envelope, complete replacement of the mechanical and electrical systems, and construction of an accessible entrance and washrooms, the report says. Urgent repairs alone will cost $24 million.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCC chair Marc Seaman said the disrepair at the official residences “is a legacy of decades of lack of investment in the properties.”
“There’s a sense of urgency from the board,” Seaman said. “We recognize that these are official residence and they don’t belong to political parties. They belong to the people of Canada.”
Read this story in its entirety on the Ottawa Citizen website.
Related Reading:
It's Time to Get Moving on 24 Sussex | Heritage Ottawa, January 17, 2019