Rat-Infested, Will Canada’s Most Famous Fixer-Upper Be Replaced?

The saga of 24 Sussex Drive, the derelict onetime official residence of Canada’s prime ministers, took a brand new flip final week after a news leak signaled that the destiny of the house — Canada’s most well-known fixer-upper — might quickly be determined.

Citing an unnamed official, Radio-Canada reported final week {that a} authorities group in command of determining what to do with the uninhabitable and rodent- and asbestos-infested home — which has been deserted since 2015 — is now leaning towards giving up on it. Instead, the group favors beginning over by constructing a brand new home at certainly one of two different places. Alternatively, the group is taking a look at making Rideau Cottage, the place Justin Trudeau moved after turning into prime minister, the everlasting dwelling of Canada’s head of presidency.

While 24 Sussex solely turned the prime minister’s official dwelling in 1951, the concept of completely abandoning it was swiftly condemned by some constructing heritage consultants. But political calculations might in the end resolve the proposal’s destiny.

Despite 24 Sussex’s symbolic significance, its fall into close to damage has been happening for many years, as I wrote nearly 5 years in the past. And the dearth of will to reverse its decline comes from a worry of political backlash. As Mr. Trudeau, who lived in the home as a toddler when his father was prime minister, as soon as stated: “No prime minister wants to spend a penny of taxpayer dollars on upkeeping that house.”

[Read: Justin Trudeau’s Official Home: Unfit for a Leader or Anyone Else]

While 24 Sussex was in a dismal state after I wrote that article, with an estimated restoration value of 38 million Canadian {dollars} on the time, the scenario has change into even worse. In 2021, the National Capital Commission, the federal company whose duties embrace taking care of Canada’s six official residences, rated its situation as “critical” in a report.

“The building systems at 24 Sussex Drive have reached the point of imminent or actual failure and require replacement,” that report warned, including, “the age and condition of the electrical systems poses a fire hazard, and the plumbing systems have failures on a regular basis.”

In April, The National Post obtained authorities paperwork that exposed there was a rodent infestation in the home. So many lifeless rodents and a lot rodent excrement had piled up in its partitions, attic and basement, a memo stated, that there have been “real concerns with air quality.”

After Mr. Trudeau moved into Rideau Cottage within the yard of Rideau Hall, the governor basic’s official dwelling, a few of his employees remained working within the kitchen at 24 Sussex, which is throughout the road. The family kitchen in Rideau Cottage is way smaller and lower than office security requirements, so Mr. Trudeau’s meals have been ferried throughout Sussex Drive. But even the cooks have been moved out of 24 Sussex final November and the constructing was formally closed.

The National Capital Commission didn’t immediately reply my questions on the potential of a brand new prime minister’s residence at a brand new location. But in an e mail, Valérie Dufour, a spokeswoman, stated that contractors had been at 24 Sussex since May and that “pre-construction site preparation is complete.” This month, quite a lot of duties will start, together with ripping out the “mechanical and electrical systems” there.

She added: “The current project will carry out the work that must be addressed regardless of any decision taken by the government on the future of the residence.”

The Radio-Canada report means that the largest consider favor of constructing a brand new official residence is safety. Recent years have seen Parliament surrounded by the rowdy trucker convoy and a gunman kill a soldier on guard on the National War Memorial earlier than then happening a capturing rampage in Parliament. In 2020, a navy reservist from Manitoba smashed by way of the gates of Rideau Hall with a pickup truck earlier than heading on foot towards Rideau Cottage with a revolver, a pistol, a rifle and two shotguns to, he stated, arrest Mr. Trudeau. The prime minister was not dwelling.

Among its many safety issues, 24 Sussex is simply steps from the road, making safety from a automobile or truck bomb infeasible with out turning the residence right into a bunker. (Closing the highway, which is a significant route with no apparent different, shouldn’t be doable.) Retrofitting the home’s roof for cover from drone assaults, it seems, poses related difficulties.

Even with out an official announcement, the suggestion of abandoning 24 Sussex has swiftly met resistance. At a news convention on Friday, a bunch of heritage consultants argued the case for renovating the home as a substitute. Residents close to the park that is among the proposed websites for a brand new residence have additionally raised considerations in regards to the lack of public house.

But in the end the political dynamic that has lengthy stalled coping with the home might proceed to maintain its future in limbo.

“We don’t need a new home for the prime minister, we need a new home for working-class Canadians,” Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative chief who lives in a government-funded official residence, instructed reporters. He added that coping with 24 Sussex can be the final merchandise on his agenda if he turns into prime minister and that Mr. Trudeau was centered on “building mansions for himself.”

Trans Canada

A local of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for twenty years.

How are we doing?
We’re desirous to have your ideas about this article and occasions in Canada normally. Please ship them to nytcanada@nytimes.com.

Like this e mail?
Forward it to your pals, and allow them to know they’ll join right here.