Key facts
- Canada's official prime minister's residence, 24 Sussex Drive, is slated for a multi-million dollar restoration.
- The project is being funded through a crowd-sourced plan announced by Mark Carney.
- Estimated restoration costs exceed C$100 million.
- A competition will be held for architecture firms to propose renovation designs.
- Donations will be accepted from individuals and philanthropic organizations, with a cap on contributions.
Canada's official prime minister's residence, 24 Sussex Drive, is set to undergo a significant restoration, funded in part by a crowd-sourced initiative. The historic building, constructed in 1867 and acquired by the government in 1949, has been uninhabitable for over a decade due to deferred maintenance, including issues with asbestos, mould, and rodents.
Mark Carney announced the plan, which aims to raise millions towards the estimated C$100 million cost of repairs. The initiative includes a competition for Canadian architecture firms to submit proposals for the future of the residence, with a winner to be selected by an independent jury by next July. The Rideau Hall Foundation will lead a national fundraising campaign, accepting donations from individuals and philanthropic organizations, with caps in place and donor lists to be made public.
Carney emphasized that the residence has not been cared for with the respect it deserves and that his government wants to ensure it becomes a secure, accessible, and sustainable home for future prime ministers. He explained that prioritizing taxpayer funds for other needs, such as affordable housing and economic strengthening, led to the decision to seek public and philanthropic support for the heritage property. Joseph Clarke, an architecture professor at the University of Toronto, described the fundraising approach as a "politically elegant solution" to the challenge of using public funds for the restoration, calling the building's neglect a "national embarrassment."