24 Sussex Drive is now rat and asbestos free, what will happen next?

According to CBC 24 Sussex Drive is no longer filled with mould, lead, asbestos and rodents, but it is still in serious disrepair and the Canadian government just doesn't know what to do with it. The National Capital Commission asserts that maintenance  "must be addressed regardless of any decision taken by the government on the future of the prime minister's residence."

Valérie Dufour, a spokesperson for the NCC, told CBC News that the house has been stripped of the old electrical wiring and plumbing. Crews were now installing heat pumps are to keep the historical residence from freezing until the powers that be make a decision on what to do with it.

Photo: Screenshot CTV News

More recent estimates put the cost of repairing and restoring 24 Sussex Drive at $37 million. CBC highlights that the cabinet nearly approved the renovation of the residence in 2016 but then backed out last minute. Spending money on the PM's dwelling is never an easy thing to do and much criticism will always be faced.

Andrew MacDougall, the former director of communications for Stephen Harper, told CBC that there is only really one good time for Canadian PMs to "get away" with renovating their homes. MacDougall told CBC, "Obviously, early in a mandate—when you're fresh off a win and people are feeling good—is the best time to do it."

That small window of opportunity is long gone for Justin Trudeau and what he decides to do with 24 Sussex will haunt him no matter what. If he spends the money on the repairs he will be harshly critiqued and if he let's the historical home rot he will also be blamed.

In August 2024 it seemed like the federal government of Canada was finally be giving up hope on 24 Sussex, the official home of many Canadian prime ministers until recently. According to CBC News, several federal agencies where studying where a new PM official residence could be built.

Photo: screenshot, Global News, Canada

Per CBC, several sites are under consideration, such as Rockcliffe Park, located on a beautiful spot on the Ottawa River. Another option could be a plot of land close to the RCMP Musical Ride training centre, east of Rockcliffe Park.

The federal government is also considering simply making Rideau Cottage, located on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official home of all Canadian PMs. After all, Justin Trudeau and his family have been living there since 2016 due to the unlivable conditions of 24 Sussex.

While it remains to be seen where the next official residence of Canada's current and future prime ministers will be, a federal government source told the CBC that nothing is set in stone yet, "There is no option that has unanimous support, and every option has its pros and cons."

Click on to read more about the history and  ups and downs of 24 Sussex!

Photo: By Unknown - https://ottawamagazine.com/homes/24-sussex-save-the-history-behind-those-walls/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132533564

24 Sussex Drive has been the official residence of many Canadian Prime Ministers over the past 70 years and has a rich history. Louis St. Laurent was the first Prime Minister to live in the house in 1951, and the house is an important symbol of the Prime Minister's office.

Photo: By Alasdair McLellan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10983216

As collected in a piece on the home by the BBC, it has been used to host official events and entertain foreign dignitaries from John F Kennedy to Princess Diana over the years.

Pictured: Brian and Mila Mulroney greet with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at 24 Sussex.

However, over the year the house has fallen into such a state of disrepair that Justin Trudeau could live there with his family. According to the BBC, the home is essentially a "fire trap" filled with asbestos, lead, and mould.

According to a 2021 report by the National Capital Commission, 24 Sussex Drive had not seen significant renovations in more than 60 years and requires "extensive and urgent repair". As a result, it has been deemed unfit for habitation, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have been living elsewhere since 2015, according to CTV News.

Photo: Screenshot, Global News

The Trudeau family currently resides at Rideau Cottage, located on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. Rideau Cottage is a 22-room home built initially as a gatekeeper's house in 1868. It was renovated in 2018 to serve as a temporary residence for Justin Trudeau and his family while the fate of 24 Sussex Drive is determined.

Prime Minister Trudeau has a personal connection to 24 Sussex Drive as he essentially grew up there. His father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, also lived at 24 Sussex Drive during his time in office, and Justin Trudeau spent much of his childhood there.

In an interview with CBC News in 2015, Justin Trudeau spoke about his memories of living at 24 Sussex Drive. "I remember as a kid, coming up the driveway on my bike and trying to race the cars as they came up," he said. "I remember playing in the pool and playing hide and seek in the curtains with my brothers and my cousins."  Pictured: Margaret Trudeau holding an infant Justin Trudeau at 24 Sussex Drive, 1972

Photo: By Photographer for the White House Photo Office - Commons:Licensing., Public Domain

Despite his fond memories of the residence, Prime Minister Trudeau has acknowledged the need for action to be taken to address the issues at 24 Sussex Drive. "The state of 24 Sussex is unacceptable, and we will take action," he said in a statement in 2016.

Photo: By Original uploader was Kelisi at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia, Public Domain

The cost of repairing the house has been a topic of debate, with estimates ranging from $10 million to $100 million, depending on the extent of the work required. However, as reported by CTV News last, a June 2021 report from the NCC said it would cost $36.6 million to restore 24 Sussex Drive to "good" condition.

While some argue that the house is an important symbol of the Prime Minister's office and that it should be restored to its former glory, others believe that the expense of repairing the residence is not justifiable, particularly in the difficult economic situation many Canadians are currently facing.

Photo: Instagram@carolinegodfrey.tm

As collected by the BBC, an opinion poll conducted in January 2023 by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute found that half of Canadians oppose renovating 24 Sussex Drive. Furthermore, a third of respondents said they believed the best course forward would be to build a modern home for the head of government.

Instagram@canuck.van

However, even before the current difficult economic times, Canadians were not enthusiastic about paying for renovating the home. A 2018 survey conducted by Ipsos found that most Canadians do not support the idea of spending a significant amount of money to renovate 24 Sussex Drive. The survey found that 56% of Canadians felt that the government should not spend more than $10 million on repairs, and only 15% believed that the government should spend more than $50 million.

In 2021, the Canadian government announced that it would conduct a feasibility study to determine whether to renovate 24 Sussex Drive or build a new residence. According to CTV News, the study found that abatement work needed to be started on the home and in November 2022, 24 Sussex Drive was officially closed.

The NCC documents indicated that only the most essential work would be done, including removing asbestos and lead, dealing with the major rodent problem in the home, and removing obsolete systems and infrastructure.

CBC News reported that construction is expected to begin this spring and last for one year. However, the cost is unknown as any mention of cost estimates has been blacked out on official documents that the public has access to.

However, government documents do state: "Following this decommissioning work, there is no additional investment planned for this site while the NCC awaits a government decision."

Pictured: the gate and coach house at 24 Sussex, photo by  Cagin'Heat - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73285314

The future of 24 Sussex Drive remains unclear, but regardless of the outcome, the home will continue to play an important role in Canadian politics and history. As the National Post notes, "...the house has become a symbol of Canadian democracy and tradition, and its survival and future are of national interest." However, the issues at 24 Sussex Drive highlight the need for action to ensure that this significant symbol of Canadian history and democracy is preserved for future generations.

Photo: Instagram@rossco_ca