Canada’s Official Opposition leader’s residence, Stornoway, requires significant repairs and upgrades, but officials say there is currently no finalized plan for the work. The 9,500-square-foot historic mansion, located in Ottawa’s Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood, is home to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his family.
The National Capital Commission (NCC), which oversees official residences in the Ottawa region, has identified the need for a comprehensive recapitalization of Stornoway in the medium term. However, details regarding the scope, timeline, and budget have yet to be determined. The NCC spokesperson Jamie Innes confirmed that no firm work plan has been established, and declined to specify the financial resources required.
A 2021 asset portfolio condition report by the NCC classified Stornoway’s state as “fair” and recommended roughly $1.25 million in investments over a decade to remedy deferred maintenance. Prioritized upgrades included electrical wiring and panels, the fire alarm system, and hardwood flooring. Efforts are also needed to enhance accessibility and modernize sustainability features, according to the NCC.
Since the residence remains occupied, recent interventions have been limited to less invasive work, such as veranda rehabilitation and addressing designated substances in a basement area affected by water infiltration. The NCC did not clarify whether the original repair cost estimate still reflects the current condition or if new issues have emerged in the past five years.
The focus on Stornoway’s condition comes amid efforts to renovate 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister’s official residence, which has been uninhabitable since 2015 due to long-term disrepair. The federal government has initiated a competition to select a Canadian design proponent for the renovation of the 158-year-old building. Meanwhile, the Rideau Hall Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign aiming to gather up to $50 million in donations to support the project.
Mr. Poilievre has been publicly critical of the 24 Sussex Drive renovation plans, calling the project a misguided priority given homelessness and housing affordability challenges facing many Canadians. When asked about Stornoway’s repair needs or whether he supports funding updates to the residence, the Official Opposition Leader’s office did not provide a response.
The discussion around Stornoway has also drawn criticism from public figures opposed to taxpayer funding for an official residence for opposition leaders. Victoria resident Carol Burman, who initiated a petition through the House of Commons to end public funding for Stornoway, cited the pending repair costs as evidence supporting her position. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May sponsors the petition, which had nearly 19,200 signatures as of early July and remains open until July 30.
Stornoway has served as the official residence for Canada’s opposition leaders since 1950. The mansion, situated roughly two kilometres from 24 Sussex Drive, previously housed the exiled Dutch royal family during World War II. The federal government acquired the property in 1970, and the NCC has managed it as a federal heritage building since 1988.
Public Services and Procurement Canada directed inquiries regarding Stornoway’s future to the NCC’s 2025-26 to 2029-30 corporate plan. This document states that planned restoration projects include Stornoway and three other official residences, with the objective of restoring all four properties to “good condition.” These include Harrington Lake, the prime minister’s country residence; the Farm, a home for the House of Commons speaker in Quebec; and 7 Rideau Gate, a guest house for dignitaries.