24 Sussex Drive [Prime Minister's residence] | Vacant

[Acajack]

Abolish the GG and the monarchy and have the PM move into Rideau Hall!

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

The Rockcliffe Pavillion (gazebo) is hiding under the word "Rockeries" in the image above, 300m to the northeast of the parking lot in question. That's the most-used portion of the park and wouldn't be affected (I assume).

They could probably reconfigure the access road so it rejoins the parkway earlier, turning the rest into a private driveway.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Too easy to hit with an RPG fired from the street or from the river.

Have you seen pictures of the White House?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Abolish the GG and the monarchy and have the PM move into Rideau Hall!

Sure, let me dig out that constitutional magic wand.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Too easy to hit with an RPG fired from the street or from the river.

It's set back from Sussex only marginally less than the White House is from Pennsylvania Avenue, or 10 Downing Street from the surrounding public streets. The Elysée is tight to the street. The Lodge in Canberra is 100 feet from a sidewalk.

We can't bubble-wrap everything and everyone against the universe. Having the Prime Minister of Canada and their family live in a fortified, isolated bunker is a bad look.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Abolish the GG and the monarchy and have the PM move into Rideau Hall!

Pretty sure I've asked before, maybe in this thread, why they can't move the PM Residence into Rideau Hall. The place is huge, and already has all the "state dignitary" facilities needed. You really need to add personal living space for the PM and family. Rideau Cottage is already 10,000 sq ft, so how big does the personal space for a PM need to be?

Although I'm curious too why not demolish the existing 24 Sussex and rebuild on that site?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Pretty sure I've asked before, maybe in this thread, why they can't move the PM Residence into Rideau Hall. The place is huge, and already has all the "state dignitary" facilities needed. You really need to add personal living space for the PM and family. Rideau Cottage is already 10,000 sq ft, so how big does the personal space for a PM need to be?

In terms of optics, it's probably best under our system to have the Crown power separate from political power to some degree.

As such it's not even ideal to have the PM as a de factor boarder on the GG's property.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They could probably reconfigure the access road so it rejoins the parkway earlier, turning the rest into a private driveway.

That's what I was thinking too. Something like this crude mockup maybe.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

It's set back from Sussex only marginally less than the White House is from Pennsylvania Avenue, or 10 Downing Street from the surrounding public streets. The Elysée is tight to the street. The Lodge in Canberra is 100 feet from a sidewalk.

We can't bubble-wrap everything and everyone against the universe. Having the Prime Minister of Canada and their family live in a fortified, isolated bunker is a bad look.

You are arguing without taking into account that what the security folks say, generally goes.

[Acajack]

If those countries started over today with their official residences, they probably wouldn't be in those locations.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Not opulent enough is my guess. If we really think about it though, I think Rideau Cottage has an advantage by being "modest" as it gives the impressions that Canada's PM is living in a relatively average, every-man house.

I like this idea. I don't know enough to comment, but there is at least a chance that Rideau Hall next door has all the facilities that a PM would need for official functions.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by phil235

I like this idea. I don't know enough to comment, but there is at least a chance that Rideau Hall next door has all the facilities that a PM would need for official functions.

I think statements like the following suggest that staying at Rideau Cottage permanently is a non-starter:

Trudeau's current residence at Rideau Cottage is less than ideal from a security standpoint, said sources — it has clear sight lines from nearby buildings and also lacks metal roof plating to repel drone attacks.

One former adviser to Trudeau said having the elected prime minister living on the grounds next to the King's representative in Canada also sends the wrong message.

"It doesn't make sense for the Prime Minister to live in the Governor General's backyard," the former adviser said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/24-sussex-prime-minister-trudeau-ottawa-1.6949710

[Fading Isle]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

It's set back from Sussex only marginally less than the White House is from Pennsylvania Avenue, or 10 Downing Street from the surrounding public streets. The Elysée is tight to the street. The Lodge in Canberra is 100 feet from a sidewalk.

We can't bubble-wrap everything and everyone against the universe. Having the Prime Minister of Canada and their family live in a fortified, isolated bunker is a bad look.

Maybe slightly off-topic, since it’s obviously a different context, but while it isn’t necessarily isolated, the White House is definitely a fortified bunker (including an actually nuclear bunker below it). It has bullet proof glass, roof-mounted radar, infrared cameras covering the entire perimeter, and surface-to-air missiles. I’m sure there’s other protection that isn’t publicized.

[McKellarDweller]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

The Rockcliffe Pavillion (gazebo) is hiding under the word "Rockeries" in the image above, 300m to the northeast of the parking lot in question. That's the most-used portion of the park and wouldn't be affected (I assume).

Upvote/thanks! I retract my previous comment then.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I think statements like the following suggest that staying at Rideau Cottage permanently is a non-starter:

You are probably right that security will play a big role. You would think that there would be trade offs with any location, including the current one, so maybe some of these items are surmountable?

As for the King's backyard thing, is that really a big consideration nowadays? I would think that a politician could win some points by reusing an existing residence and sharing facilities and security costs with the GG. Seems to me that frugalness would be a bigger factor on the political side.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Abolish the GG and the monarchy and have the PM move into Rideau Hall!

For some reason, people seem to think if we abolish the GG and Monarchy, we need to replace it with another ceremonial role above the PM, or President, or whatever it's called. I guess to keep the elected official in check.

Didn't work for Russia. On the other hand, not having someone above to place the President in check didn't work out in the U.S. with Trump trying to hold on to power. Some would argue the system works because he didn't hold on to power, but I say the system still failed because he's still free and allowed to continue posting lies and hatred online. Yes, the law is closing in on him, but I'm don't think he'll end up in jail. He has been given special treatment (no bail to pay, no handcuffs, no conditions).

That's a whole other conversation.

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Have you seen pictures of the White House?

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

It's set back from Sussex only marginally less than the White House is from Pennsylvania Avenue, or 10 Downing Street from the surrounding public streets. The Elysée is tight to the street. The Lodge in Canberra is 100 feet from a sidewalk.

We can't bubble-wrap everything and everyone against the universe. Having the Prime Minister of Canada and their family live in a fortified, isolated bunker is a bad look.

Originally Posted by Acajack

If those countries started over today with their official residences, they probably wouldn't be in those locations.

Originally Posted by Fading Isle

Maybe slightly off-topic, since it’s obviously a different context, but while it isn’t necessarily isolated, the White House is definitely a fortified bunker (including an actually nuclear bunker below it). It has bullet proof glass, roof-mounted radar, infrared cameras covering the entire perimeter, and surface-to-air missiles. I’m sure there’s other protection that isn’t publicized.

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I think statements like the following suggest that staying at Rideau Cottage permanently is a non-starter:

Arguably, Canada's PM residence is already the safest out of all of them as it's further back from public access. Much of the White House security features could easily be implemented at 24 Sussex, or Rideau Cottage.

I guess we could argue against Rideau hall because it has high public access, and taking that away wouldn't go well with the public. See Jeanne Sauvé in the 80s.

[zzptichka]

These security concerns are pretty laughable and outdated.

If you are even remotely serious about it, you just buy an FPV drone, attach a grenade to it and launch it from a mile away. Much more discrete and effective.

RPG is so last century.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

These security concerns are pretty laughable and outdated.

If you are even remotely serious about it, you just buy an FPV drone, attach a grenade to it and launch it from a mile away. Much more discrete and effective.

RPG is so last century.

Also, Parliament, PMO, National Press Building, Sir John A. Building and all the other buildings occupied by politicians that the public can touch with their hands.

These security concerns are just ridiculous. I don't trust any police body in this country to offer any sort of reasonable advice, or even truthful. The mess that was the winter 2022 occupation, Pimisi can't handle crowds, RCMP hiring companies with Chinese ties to build radio equipment.

[JM1]

Could the mile circle be a potential location for the PM residence? Probably not… because the Kettle Island bridge will make too much noise.

[Harley613]

I wonder why this location at Cumberland and Murray isn't on the list of potential sites? The lot is for sale, it has a heritage component, it's very centrally located with easy access to the PMO, Parliament, and other major government buildings. It's also culturally significant, because it's in the heart of Ottawa's beautiful Byward Market, the gem of our Nation's Capital.

Very odd...