The Prime Minister's residence at 24 Sussex Dr. in Ottawa in a file photo from 2008.Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says work is under way to decide the fate of 24 Sussex Dr., the official residence of Canada’s prime ministers since 1951, amid reports of an appalling rodent infestation in the 155-year-old building.
“I know there have been ongoing consultations and important processes to balance the historical heritage nature of that building and the needs of government and of Canadians going forward,” Mr. Trudeau said at a news conference Wednesday.
The Ottawa residence was built in 1868 as a lumber baron’s home, and Mr. Trudeau lived there as a child when his father was prime minister. But since he became Prime Minister in 2015, he and his family have lived in nearby Rideau Cottage, which he described during the news conference as a “smaller but better place.”
He said talks are continuing within the National Capital Commission (NCC), which is in charge of official residences, and the Department of Public Works.
Documents from the NCC say the rodent infestation at 24 Sussex is so severe that the walls, attic and basement are filled with carcasses and excrement.
The issues were first reported by the National Post, which obtained the documents through an access-to-information request.
The NCC has now published the documents and says the rodent problem is causing air-quality concerns. After 60 years of mounting repairs, the commission moved the final group of staff out of the building last year for health and safety reasons.
It says the rodent problem cannot be addressed until issues with the building’s exterior walls, foundation, roof and windows are fixed.
In his memoir, released in January, former finance minister Bill Morneau wrote that he once proposed bringing together former prime ministers to review the condition and upkeep of two publicly funded residences for Canada’s leaders, but the idea was ignored.
“I received little or no response to my idea, which I attributed to an unfortunate fear of backlash from various quarters against spending public funds on what were essentially two private residences,” he wrote.
Mr. Trudeau has previously said 24 Sussex has been neglected by many generations of politicians and prime ministers and is “in terrible condition.”
The NCC has chronicled the decline of the property from neglect and has said it would cost about $36.6-million to properly renovate the building.