Canada is moving forward with plans to restore 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the prime minister, which has remained vacant for over a decade due to extensive disrepair. The federal government announced last week a national design and build competition to oversee the renovation of the historic stone mansion in Ottawa. The project will be largely funded through a national fundraising initiative.
Currently uninhabitable, 24 Sussex Drive has suffered from years of deferred maintenance leaving the property in poor condition. Issues include rodent infestations, outdated electrical systems dating back to the 1950s, an aging boiler, lack of central air conditioning, and asbestos-laden materials. The house also sits on an unstable cliff above the Ottawa River, complicating restoration efforts. The residence was formally closed in December 2024 after inspections deemed it unsafe for occupancy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who lives in temporary official quarters nearby, emphasized the urgency of addressing the residence’s deterioration. "We will not let it crumble," he said, adding the restoration will be executed "in a manner that reflects the very best of Canada." Carney also noted he does not intend to live in the renovated home.
The competition’s jury will be chaired by Moshe Safdie, a prominent architect responsible for notable Canadian landmarks such as the National Gallery of Canada. The winning firm will handle both the design and reconstruction phases, with the decision expected to be announced on Canada Day, July 1, 2025.
Fundraising efforts will be led by the Rideau Hall Foundation, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the office of the governor general. To address concerns about conflicts of interest and political influence, donations from corporations will be prohibited, individual contributions will be capped, and all donor identities will be publicly disclosed. The overall budget for the project has yet to be finalized.
The vacancy and deterioration of 24 Sussex Drive have long been a political sensitivity in Canada. Past prime ministers have avoided investing public funds into the residence amid concerns about perceptions of personal benefit. When Justin Trudeau took office in 2015, he declined to move into the official residence, instead opting for temporary accommodations elsewhere. His decision underscored the challenges surrounding the house’s upkeep.
Historically, Canadian prime ministers did not have an official residence until 1950, when the government acquired 24 Sussex Drive from the National Capital Commission. Unlike the White House in the United States, the house does not contain the prime minister’s office, which is located across from Parliament Hill, but it has served as a venue for smaller official functions.
Restoration costs were estimated at approximately 38 million Canadian dollars nearly a decade ago, and that figure is expected to have increased. The government’s renewed commitment marks a significant step toward rehabilitating one of Canada’s most prominent but neglected public properties.