Canada’s newest leader, Prime Minister elect Justin Trudeau, will not be moving into Canada’s official prime ministerial residence, at least for the foreseeable future.
The ageing home on 4 acres on the bank of the Ottawa River is in dire need of renovations.
Instead, “Justin Trudeau, his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, and their three children will be immediately relocating to Rideau Cottage, part of the Rideau Hall grounds in the National Capital Region,” his office said on Monday.
“Mr. Trudeau and his family will reside at Rideau Cottage until further notice,” the statement said. “The Prime Minister-designate will make decisions regarding 24 Sussex Drive once he has been fully briefed by officials.”
The building located at 24 Sussex Drive in the national capital, Ottawa, was originally built in 1868 for a man who made a fortune in the lumber trade. It was passed through three other owners, all successful businessmen and later politicians.
Fearing “commercialization”, successive governments had purchased almost all the land along the Ottawa river and sought to expropriate the house and property at 24 Sussex. The owner (Gordon Edwards fought against it) but lost a court case and the government acquired the house in 1946. At first uncertain as to what to do with the house, it was decided it should be the official residence of the Prime Minister. By 1950 the house was ready, although in an era of “modernization” much of the Victorian charm inside the house had been removed.
There have only been 5 Prime Ministers at the house, and very few improvements since. It seem the general attitude was that it would look bad in the eyes of the public if the prime minister spent vast sums renovating the house.
Estimates as far back as 2008 were that it would take about 10 million dollars to properly rectify many outstanding issues including draughty windows, no central air conditioning, old outdated heating, inadequate plumbing and much more.
The 2008 Auditory-General’s report also said that it would take months of “full access” to do the work.
When and if, Prime-minister designate Justin Trudeau moves in to 24 Sussex, it will be a return for him. This is where he lived for many years as a child when his father, Pierre-Elliot Trudeau was Prime Minister.
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