The prime minister鈥檚 official residences in Ottawa and at Harrington Lake are both in 鈥渃ritical condition,鈥� according to a new report from the National Capital Commission.
that the 1868-built home at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, which had its last 鈥渕ajor renovation鈥� in 1951, has now reached the point of 鈥渋mminent or actual failure.鈥�
Over the decade from 2006 to 2016, when Stephen Harper was prime minister, about $6 million was spent on capital improvements and $2.8 million on operations at the residence. The NCC says that wasn鈥檛 nearly enough, and that the following problems remain:
- An electrical system that 鈥減oses a fire hazard鈥�
- A lack of accessible washrooms
- Regular plumbing system failures
- Window air conditioners that are costly and 鈥減ose a security risk鈥�
- Asbestos 鈥渢hroughout many interior finishes.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chose not to move into the official residence after his 2015 swearing in, opting instead to live across the street at Rideau Cottage.
The prime minister鈥檚 other official residence, at Harrington Lake in Pontiac, Que., was built in 1925 and acquired by the federal government in 1951.
鈥淭he last significant construction work took place in 2005 and consisted of improvements to the electrical system, installation of a sprinkler system, reroofing, and the construction of a sunroom,鈥� according to the NCC.
The building, which Trudeau and his family sometimes use, continues to need 鈥渃ritical rehabilitations鈥� for the exterior envelope including doors, windows, attic, foundations and chimneys, according to the report.
The caretaker鈥檚 house, meanwhile, has been closed for several years 鈥渄ue to instability and other health and safety concerns,鈥� the report claims.
Just under $1.7 million was spent on capital and about $1.9 million was spent on operations and maintenance on Harrington Lake between 2006 and 2016, the report says.
Meanwhile, the official residence of the speaker of the House of Commons, The Farm in Chelsea, Que., is listed in the report in 鈥減oor鈥� condition, a rating one step up from 鈥渃ritical.鈥�
Rideau Hall, where Governor General Julie Payette lives, and Stornoway, which is home of the Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer, were both rated as 鈥済ood.鈥�
Concerns about the state of repair at the prime minister鈥檚 residences date back decades. Observers say they don鈥檛 get fixed because the opposition is likely to pounce on the use of taxpayer dollars to do major renovations.
Earlier this summer, Scheer criticized Trudeau for the installation of a $7,500 play structure at Harrington Lake, suggesting the NCC should instead have bought one from Walmart that cost less than $200.
The NCC is asking for a one-time injection of $83 million over 10 years for deferred maintenance and an increase in annual appropriations of $24.6 million. That NCC currently receives about $23 million per year.
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