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

[rocketphish]

Canadians to learn fate of 24 Sussex on Friday, Carney says
Prime minister's official residence has sat vacant since 2015

Ashley Burke · CBC News
Posted: Jun 25, 2026 1:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he'll announce on Friday what will happen to 24 Sussex Drive — the heritage building sitting vacant for almost a decade after his predecessors allowed it to deteriorate and become uninhabitable.

CBC News asked Carney at a news conference on Thursday about what he envisions for the prime minister's official residence.

"I'll have a press conference tomorrow to answer that," Carney said.

Reporters in the room seemed surprised by the announcement, which led him to joke that "there's something new every day." He wouldn't say what his plan is.

"There's one question I'm not going to answer today which is 24 Sussex," he said.

Carney made the comment a day after CBC News reported his long-awaited decision was expected in the coming weeks, following months of meetings about what to do with one of Canada's most famous addresses.

Successive prime ministers haven't wanted to take the political risk to spend the tens of millions of dollars needed to renovate the 32-room home. It was gutted in recent years to strip out mould, asbestos and rodents.

In April, Carney revealed he wants to choose an option that allows future prime ministers to call 24 Sussex home.

"You're not going to see me at 24 Sussex, but I would like to see my successors at 24 Sussex in some way, shape or form," Carney said in an interview in April with CBC's The National.

"I think it's a responsibility to hand off things better than you found them. And certainly the current state of 24 Sussex couldn't be any worse. It's an embarrassment."

Tobi Nussbaum, the CEO of the National Capital Commission (NCC) which manages 24 Sussex Drive, said on Tuesday the government has been seized with deciding what to do about the property for some time.

The commission's plan to make the capital more beautiful over the next two decades was approved by the board this week. The plan calls preserving and enhancing 24 Sussex a "key objective."

The NCC recommends to "rehabilitate and renew the property, a classified federal heritage building, in a way that reflects its role as the official residence of the prime minister of Canada."

Officials in 2025 estimated the price tag to restore 24 Sussex could range from tens of millions of dollars to more than $100 million.

The government has long faced calls to take future decisions about the official residence out of political hands to prevent history from repeating itself.

In one of his final acts as prime minister, Justin Trudeau called for the creation of an advisory panel of former prime ministers to make recommendations about the cost, security requirements and location of the residence.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-announcing-fate-24-sussex-drive-9.7248816

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Canadians to learn fate of 24 Sussex on Friday, Carney says
Prime minister's official residence has sat vacant since 2015

Ashley Burke · CBC News
Posted: Jun 25, 2026 1:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he'll announce on Friday what will happen to 24 Sussex Drive — the heritage building sitting vacant for almost a decade after his predecessors allowed it to deteriorate and become uninhabitable.

CBC News asked Carney at a news conference on Thursday about what he envisions for the prime minister's official residence.

"I'll have a press conference tomorrow to answer that," Carney said.

Reporters in the room seemed surprised by the announcement, which led him to joke that "there's something new every day." He wouldn't say what his plan is.

"There's one question I'm not going to answer today which is 24 Sussex," he said.

Carney made the comment a day after CBC News reported his long-awaited decision was expected in the coming weeks, following months of meetings about what to do with one of Canada's most famous addresses.

Successive prime ministers haven't wanted to take the political risk to spend the tens of millions of dollars needed to renovate the 32-room home. It was gutted in recent years to strip out mould, asbestos and rodents.

In April, Carney revealed he wants to choose an option that allows future prime ministers to call 24 Sussex home.

"You're not going to see me at 24 Sussex, but I would like to see my successors at 24 Sussex in some way, shape or form," Carney said in an interview in April with CBC's The National.

"I think it's a responsibility to hand off things better than you found them. And certainly the current state of 24 Sussex couldn't be any worse. It's an embarrassment."

Tobi Nussbaum, the CEO of the National Capital Commission (NCC) which manages 24 Sussex Drive, said on Tuesday the government has been seized with deciding what to do about the property for some time.

The commission's plan to make the capital more beautiful over the next two decades was approved by the board this week. The plan calls preserving and enhancing 24 Sussex a "key objective."

The NCC recommends to "rehabilitate and renew the property, a classified federal heritage building, in a way that reflects its role as the official residence of the prime minister of Canada."

Officials in 2025 estimated the price tag to restore 24 Sussex could range from tens of millions of dollars to more than $100 million.

The government has long faced calls to take future decisions about the official residence out of political hands to prevent history from repeating itself.

In one of his final acts as prime minister, Justin Trudeau called for the creation of an advisory panel of former prime ministers to make recommendations about the cost, security requirements and location of the residence.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-announcing-fate-24-sussex-drive-9.7248816

Thinking it be torn down and rebuilt

[rocketphish]

Carney to announce fundraising campaign, design competition to restore 24 Sussex: source
Company to design, build project expected to be chosen by July 2027

Ashley Burke · CBC News
Posted: Jun 25, 2026 1:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce on Friday a long-awaited plan to restore 24 Sussex Drive that includes a fundraising campaign to come up with as much money as possible to pay for it, CBC News has learned.

A senior government source said Carney's plan is set to include launching a design competition to allow Canadian companies to propose how they would make the home a suitable official residence again for future prime ministers.

The chosen design is expected to be announced by July 1, 2027, the source said. The winner, the source said, would both design and carry out the construction of the project.

The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said an independent advisory panel is also expected to be set up to weigh in on the proposals.

So taxpayers don't have to foot the whole bill, the Rideau Hall Foundation would run the fundraising campaign across Canada to try and cover the costs, the source said.

In one of his final acts as prime minister, Justin Trudeau called for the creation of an advisory panel of former prime ministers to make recommendations about the cost, security requirements and location of the residence. Former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien had also floated the idea of a fundraising campaign in recent years.

Carney is scheduled to make the announcement at 9:30 a.m.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-24-sussex-fundraising-campaign-9.7248816

[kwoldtimer]

Fund-raising is an excellent idea.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Fund-raising is an excellent idea.

I like the fund raising idea/design competition and this is a safe play for Carney…. No real commitment at this point but looks like he is doing something.

Pierre P. already complaint about it

[J.OT13]

So Chrétien and Harper's idea. They should involve them. We should also revive the reality show idea just to piss off Trump.

[skyscraperaccount]

How about we re-instate the digital tax, at a slightly higher rate than before and redirect the extra to the building.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

Pierre P. already complaint about it

The former Member for Carleton gives off such strong freshly-dumped boyfriend energy every time he goes before the cameras these days.

His comment about " I really don't think about 24 Sussex at all" was textbook projection.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Fund-raising is an excellent idea.

I get why it's good politically, but it's not the greatest precedent. The government neglects even a basic level of upkeep of a building it is clearly responsible for and then turns to the public to fund what is clearly its responsibility. I prefer that they just allocate funding for upgrades and construction and if they need political cover, just have Carney pledge that he will never live in the house.

[Truenorth00]

How does this not turn into Canada's version of Trump's ballroom?

We're finally spending more on defence and infrastructure. And the residence of the PM is actually a strategic asset. Not just a heritage property. Create a committee that determines design guidelines and recommends a budget. Pick one and go ahead with it. The Opposition will always complain. Ignore them.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

I get why it's good politically, but it's not the greatest precedent. The government neglects even a basic level of upkeep of a building it is clearly responsible for and then turns to the public to fund what is clearly its responsibility. I prefer that they just allocate funding for upgrades and construction and if they need political cover, just have Carney pledge that he will never live in the house.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this. Obviously this isn't the same as the White House ballroom because that is a Trump vanity project and those who contribute get special access and treatment from Trump, but if we're raising private funds for this, where does it end? It sets a precedent for a future "buy access" contributions.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Originally Posted by phil235

I get why it's good politically, but it's not the greatest precedent. The government neglects even a basic level of upkeep of a building it is clearly responsible for and then turns to the public to fund what is clearly its responsibility. I prefer that they just allocate funding for upgrades and construction and if they need political cover, just have Carney pledge that he will never live in the house.

Yeah maybe. Buckingham Palace is hearing the completion of $700 miilion dollars of renos and the king said he will never live there, just use it for ceremonial stuff.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by DarthVader_1961

I like the fund raising idea/design competition and this is a safe play for Carney…. No real commitment at this point but looks like he is doing something.

Pierre P. already complaint about it

As evidence that Canada is broken?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

How does this not turn into Canada's version of Trump's ballroom?

We're finally spending more on defence and infrastructure. And the residence of the PM is actually a strategic asset. Not just a heritage property. Create a committee that determines design guidelines and recommends a budget. Pick one and go ahead with it. The Opposition will always complain. Ignore them.

I think it's called "taste". Rest easy, the gilding will be kept to a minimum, although the overall bill will raise a few eyebrows.

[rocketphish]

Carney says donor list for 24 Sussex restoration will be public
PM did not provide cost estimate for restoring official residence

Peter Zimonjic · CBC News
Posted: Jun 26, 2026 11:01 AM EDT | Last Updated: 21 minutes ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the national fundraising campaign for the refurbishment of the prime minister's official residence will place a limit on donations and make the list of donors public to ensure transparency in the project.

Carney said the Rideau Hall Foundation, which is running the fundraising campaign, will make a final decision on donation limits, but his "thinking is the limit would be 10 per cent of the overall amount raised or a specific cap."

The donations will only be accepted if they are from individual Canadian citizens, permanent residents or philanthropic organizations, corporations will not be allowed to participate.

"The way the process is designed is we have the Rideau Hall Foundation overseeing the fundraising [with] no influence at all on the decisions," Carney said.

On Friday, Carney outlined the government's plan to restore the home at 24 Sussex Drive, which has fallen into disrepair and become uninhabitable after years of neglect.

The prime minister did not provide a cost estimate for the refurbishment of the property, saying he will let the design teams first provide specifications for the official residence, with costs following on from that.

"I don't want to be too forward on what the budget is for this," Carney said. "In many respects that's part of the competition … I don't want to be saying you should put the dining room on the second floor."

The design and build competition announced Friday to modernize the prime minister's official residence will be open to eligible Canadian design firms.

The competition itself will be overseen by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, which will put together an independent jury of experts in architecture, heritage conservation and design.

The jury’s members are: Carol Bélanger, Nicolas Demers-Stoddart, Omar Gandhi, Mamie Griffith, Patricia Kell, and Brigitte Shim. It will be chaired by Moshe Safdie.

The winning proposal will be announced by Canada Day 2027.

Carney noted that while the official residence is still standing, it's been gutted to the studs and has been sitting vacant for more than a decade.

The design-and-build competition, Carney said Friday, will restore 24 Sussex Drive so it can once again serve as "a secure, accessible and sustainable official residence and a working venue for Canada's future prime ministers."

"A nation is more than the people who live in it today. It includes everyone who came before us, and everyone who will come after," Carney said.

The prime minister said 24 Sussex Drive, which was built in 1868, is a symbol of Canada's democracy and an important part of its history, having played host to Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Winston Churchill and U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

"Our institutions are how we carry forward what we were given, and how we pass it on, at least intact, ideally improved, to those who follow," he said. "24 Sussex Drive is one of these institutions. And we will not let it crumble. We will set it right."

Asked why he decided to seek donations for the refurbishment rather than use tax revenues, Carney said his government has a lot of priorities, all of which are competing for government funding.

The prime minister said those priorities include things like: infrastructure, national defence, sovereignty in the Arctic, health care, the arts and charitable endeavors at home and abroad.

When weighing those responsibilities, Carney said it was difficult to ignore how many private Canadians had reached out asking if they could financially support 24 Sussex Drive's refurbishment.

"The structure here is a response to incoming interest in supporting this project," he said.

Carney thanked former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien for advocating the renovation. He also thanked former prime ministers Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau, who, together with Brian Mulroney's widow, Mila Mulroney, have publicly backed the project.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/24-sussex-restoration-plan-carney-9.7250022

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

As evidence that Canada is broken?

Funny he never complained about his tax payer funded mansion, or commented on those few months he lived there illegally.

[casper]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I think it's called "taste". Rest easy, the gilding will be kept to a minimum, although the overall bill will raise a few eyebrows.

Well our existing national ballroom does have a bit of gilding. I do hope the Governor General has never invited Trump to an event ..... Rideau Hall seating 150 its just slightly smaller than the old white house ballroom that held 200. The new white house will be what 1,000?



Source: Wikipedia

Once the Senate returns to is refurbished chambers, it may well make sense for the old train station to become the event space again that can be used for very large events that require complex security. Rideau Hall continues its current role. Does 24 Sussex need a large ballroom or can it get buy with a smaller venue what the PM can host the odd private event with world leaders or premiers, maybe a space that can seat 20-30 people at most.

[lrt's friend]

Obviously. naming rights will be sold for 24 Sussex. Time for an electronic billboard out front, to centre the new Sussex village.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Obviously. naming rights will be sold for 24 Sussex. Time for an electronic billboard out front, to centre the new Sussex village.

Yep "24 Sussex Presented By Rogers". At least their colour is red lol

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Fund-raising is an excellent idea.

It's a horrible idea unless you're going to cap the donation amount at something that is too low to possibly be a quid pro quo or even convey the impression that it could be a quid pro quo. Not accepting donations from corporations is a thinly veiled mask to buying influence, but it will end up just like Ottawa's municipal elections where the top people in orgs will all *individual* make donations.

If they want to do donations, they should set the limit to something like $1000 and you get your name on a wall or a paving stone somewhere.