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Or sign-in if you have an account.Prime Minister Mark Carney takes part in a press conference at 24 Sussex in Ottawa June 25, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable /PostmediaHappy nations have no history, as Tolstoy noted in War and Peace, his chronicle of Russian conflict, political upheaval and tragedy.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe logic of this has generally worked in Canada’s favour. But you can have too much of a good thing.As Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a Friday press conference announcing the restoration of the historic prime ministerial residence, 24 Sussex is not just a backdrop to history: “It is a symbol of the public office of the head of our federal government and of the democratic traditions that office represents.”The Victorian mansion that sits on a four-acre site overlooking the confluence of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau rivers is as old as the country itself; has been home to 10 Canadian prime ministers; and has hosted luminaries from Winston Churchill to John F. Kennedy.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againCanada has lots of geography but not much history. 24 Sussex Drive clearly qualifies as a national landmark that is worth preserving, despite its unremarkable architecture.That it has been left to languish for decades is a disgrace that has been tacitly acknowledged by former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper, who did nothing in office but have offered to lead fundraising efforts to restore the residence.Justin Trudeau and his family never moved into the draughty old mansion where he spent years as a child. This was in part due to the antiquated plumbing, heating and asbestos.But it was mostly over RCMP concerns that someone could fire a shoulder-mounted rocket-propelled grenade from Sussex Drive and bring down the entire edifice.The Mounties nearly lost a prime minister when, in November 1995, André Dallaire wandered around inside 24 Sussex and was only apprehended after being confronted by Aline Chrétien, who locked the door to the bedroom.Security cameras and crash-proof barriers were installed after that incident, but the residence remains extremely exposed to the road. Making it more invulnerable to terrorist attack is likely to prove one of the major considerations in any restoration.Carney said the federal government will pick up the tab for additional security measures. But the bulk of the restoration funding is expected to come from private donations raised by the non-profit Rideau Hall Foundation.Carney said he has seen estimates on the cost — the National Capital Commission released an appraisal of $36.6 million five years ago — but he did not want to condition potential architectural designs by setting a budget. He said the government will run a national design-and-build competition, with parameters defined by the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada.The competition will be judged by an independent panel chaired by the legendary Moshe Safdie, who designed the National Gallery of Canada, among other prominent buildings around the world.The winning proposal will be chosen by Canada Day next year, Carney said.Curiously, the prime minister said he will never live in a renovated 24 Sussex, which may or may not be indicative of whether he intends to run for office again. It is clearly conceivable that the winning bid is chosen, and the work done, by the end of the decade, when another election will be due.The decision to proceed with renovations that are not particularly popular with Canadians is in keeping with Carney’s view of good stewardship. There is not likely to be any political payoff for this decision — and it may even work against the prime minister. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said that the renovations at 24 Sussex should be “the last thing on our minds,” given the housing crisis in Canada.But Carney said Canadians expect their leaders to take decisions where the benefits accrue long after they leave office. “We are stewards of the offices we hold, and it is our responsibility to leave them better than we found them,” he said.There will be those who will dismiss this as high-minded cant: a righteous attempt at virtue signalling, without committing the funds to actually make it happen.But I take it as a sincerely held belief in the importance of history, institutions and tradition.“These foundations are expressed in language, practised in custom and convention, enshrined in law (and) can also take physical form. They can be made of timber and stone, and stand as landmarks, as testaments, in which we recognize ourselves,” he said.That sincerity will be tested if donors can’t be found. But the prime minister is now the public face of this effort and will be judged harshly if the building is left to deteriorate.To be honest, there is not much that is iconic about the limestone Queen Anne-style structure, with its asymmetric, intersecting rooflines, and ad hoc additions (former prime minister Lester Pearson constructed a rear winterized patio; Pierre Trudeau famously built an indoor swimming pool linked by an underground corridor).But it is part of Canada’s heritage, and ripping it down would be an act of cultural vandalism on a par with pulling down a statue of Sir John A.24 Sussex was home to Quebecers — Louis St. Laurent, Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney and Jean Chrétien — as well as westerners — John Diefenbaker and Stephen Harper.For a country that many want to pull apart, it is a symbol of national unity, and the government should be commended for refusing to let it crumble.National Post Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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