PM's, GG's official homes falling apart: audit
CBC News | Posted: May 6, 2008 8:40 PM | Last Updated: May 6, 2008
Parts of the six official residences in poor to critical condition:
- Rideau Hall, Ottawa, home of the Governor General:
- Walls.
- Thirteen of 27 other buildings on grounds.
- 24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, home of the prime minister:
- Windows.
- Heating and air conditioning.
- Electrical systems.
- Plumbing.
- No sprinklers.
- Stornoway, Ottawa, home of the leader of the opposition:
- None, but building has a limited number of sprinklers.
- Harrington Lake (Lac Mousseau), Gatineau Park, secondary residence of the prime minister:
- Windows.
- Walls.
- Heating and air conditioning systems.
- Four of nine other buildings on grounds.
- The Farm (Kingsmere), Gatineau Park, residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons:
- Plumbing.
- Three of six other buildings on grounds.
- 7 Rideau Gate, Ottawa, Canada's official guest house:
- Windows.
- Walls.
- La Citadelle, Quebec City, secondary residence of the Governor General:
- Air conditioning in west wing.
- One of three other buildings on grounds.
The windows and plumbing at the prime minister's official residence are in "poor to critical condition" and some parts of the Governor General's home don't fare much better, the auditor general has found.
An audit of the federal government’s six official residences, tabled as part of Sheila Fraser’s report Tuesday, found the government has let slide some of its duties as a landlord.
In the worst shape is 24 Sussex Drive, the prime minister's official residence. Repairs to that building, which has not undergone major renovations in 50 years, would cost about $10 million and would require "full access" to the residence for 12 to 15 months, estimated the National Capital Commission, the federal agency that manages the official residences.
Specifically, the home’s windows, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning are in poor to critical condition.
The report called the repairs "an urgent matter" and warned that delays could result in higher costs.
Fraser emphasized that maintaining the buildings is important not just for the comfort of the occupants.
"The official residences are more than housing provided to the country's senior government leaders," Fraser said in a statement. "They are part of Canada's heritage and need to be preserved."
The prime minister’s three-storey home was built between 1866 and 1868 and has 34 rooms.
The NCC made some repairs to Rideau Hall, the home of the Governor General, with federal money provided in 2005, but the roof, windows, walls and foundations of that building are only in fair condition, the report found.
Repairs were also made to the other four residences in the National Capital Region with the money provided in 2005.