Canada’s official residence for the prime minister, 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, is set to undergo a major renovation after years of neglect left the historic building in critical condition. The 34-room stone mansion has been uninhabitable for over a decade due to health and safety concerns, including asbestos, mold, and pest infestations. As a result, no prime minister has lived there since Stephen Harper’s tenure.

On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the launch of a design competition to restore and redesign the 158-year-old residence. Carney, who has described the state of the home as “an embarrassment,” emphasized the importance of preserving the building for future occupants. “I may not look like it, but my kids are already grown, and I will never, in any event, live in 24 Sussex Drive. But future prime ministers will undoubtedly need to raise their children here…so we’ll restore it so they may do so safely,” he said.

The National Capital Commission (NCC), which manages official residences, closed 24 Sussex in 2022 after a report found the facility’s infrastructure had reached “imminent or actual failure.” The building underwent a cleanup project completed in 2024 to remove hazardous asbestos, mold, and rodent remains. The NCC has estimated the cost to restore the residence to a livable condition at CA$37 million (approximately US$26 million).

Carney indicated that much of the restoration funding would come from a national fundraising initiative spearheaded by a nonprofit organization affiliated with the office of the governor general, King Charles III’s representative in Canada. The winner of the redesign competition will be selected by a jury convened by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, with an announcement expected by July 1, 2027.

Despite the planned renovations, opposition remains on whether the project represents the highest priority. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre downplayed the focus on 24 Sussex, stating that issues such as homelessness and housing affordability deserve more attention. Poilievre has his own official residence in Ottawa and has criticized the government for its handling of the property.

Unlike counterparts such as the White House in the United States or 10 Downing Street in the United Kingdom, 24 Sussex functions primarily as a residence rather than a working office. The prime minister’s main office is located elsewhere in Ottawa. Critics have pointed out that Canada’s neglect of the property contrasts with the maintenance standards of other Group of Seven nations, where leaders’ residences are better preserved.

The historic home, which overlooks the Ottawa River on 5.3 acres, was originally built in 1868 by a lumber baron and ex-member of Parliament as a gift for his third wife. The federal government expropriated the mansion, making it the prime minister’s official residence in 1951. Previous renovation efforts, however, have courted controversy. In the 1970s, Pierre Elliott Trudeau faced public backlash over an indoor swimming pool installation funded privately. In the late 1980s, then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s party attracted criticism for lavish renovations that drew comparisons to excesses seen in international examples of corruption.

These political sensitivities have contributed to successive prime ministers avoiding costly repairs, wary of public perception. Justin Trudeau chose to reside at Rideau Hall, the governor general’s residence, rather than occupy 24 Sussex. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien acknowledged the dilemma in 2015, noting that spending on the house often draws negative press coverage, a situation that leaves politicians reluctant to invest. He added, however, that failing to maintain the residence presents a different problem, making officials appear overly frugal.

With the new restoration plans now underway, Canada aims to preserve the historic 24 Sussex Drive as a safe and dignified home for future prime ministers and their families.