Why Mark Carney isn't moving into the official prime minister's residence

Prime Minister Mark Carney will soon move into Rideau Cottage, which was the home of Justin Trudeau from October 2015, when he was first elected as prime minister, to March 2025, when he resigned. Since 1951, every other prime minister preceding Trudeau has lived at 24 Sussex Drive. However, due to the need for extensive repairs, the official residence has not been in use since former prime minister Stephen Harper last resided there in 2015. Here’s what to know about Carney’s residences. Where did Carney live when he ran for leader? Carney is a longtime resident of Ottawa’s Rockcliffe Park , one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country. His home there is just a 10-minute drive from Parliament Hill. The neighbourhood is home to politicians, diplomats, and business leaders. Its homes were designed by several famous architects and are surrounded by lush, spacious greenery. What do we know about where he has been living since? According to Daniel Savoie, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office (PCO), since Carney first became prime minister when he was elected Liberal leader in March, he has been temporarily staying at an unspecified official guest residence, at the recommendation of the RCMP and other security officials. Where is he moving? After winning the federal election, Carney will be moving into Rideau Cottage, the PCO said. Why isn’t Rideau Cottage the official PM’s residence? According to Parks Canada , Rideau Cottage, which resides on the grounds of the Rideau Hall complex, was built in 1866 to 1867. Rideau Hall is the residence of the Governor General and Rideau Cottage was originally built as a residence for the Secretary of the Governor General. The Cottage, which has generally been considered too small for official prime minister functions, would be costly to turn into a permanent residence for future prime ministers. It would require the creation of staff offices and other “residential infrastructure,” according to an internal government document obtained by The Canadian Press. What’s wrong with 24 Sussex? The building has been out of use since 2015. It was originally supposed to undergo repairs over the course of a few years, but a decade has since past. As of 2016, the building required significant upgrades to the windows, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, plumbing and electrical systems, fire suppression, universal accessibility, service area functionality and landscaping, the Ottawa Citizen reported at the time. The building was classified as being in “critical condition” in 2021. According to the National Capital Commission , in 2022, the building was closed for health and safety reasons. In May of 2023, the project to decommission the building started, with a planned finish of summer 2024. The project is now complete, and the building is empty. Some of what was included in the decommissioning was the removal and storage of heritage fabric, the removal of asbestos and the insulation of exterior walls. What’s next for the prime minister’s official residence? 24 Sussex sits in disrepair despite it being completely decommissioned. Some believe it would be easier to pick a completely different residence as it would require tens of millions of dollars to make it usable as the official prime minister’s residence. One of Trudeau’s final acts in office was to address the issue of 24 Sussex. CBC reported that the then prime minister asked Public Services and Procurement Canada to take over the project from the National Capital Commission and appoint an advisory committee to consider options for a new official residence, with a proposal due in January 2026. Possible options include extensive renovations, building a new residence on the site of 24 Sussex, upgrading Rideau Cottage or choosing a different residence.

• Inside Canada's rotting official residences: Why six properties need $175M in repairs
• Ottawa’s elite live in Rockcliffe Park. Here’s what to know about the wealthy enclave

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