Question Period Note: Rehabilitation of Official Residences

The Official Residences of Canada: 2021 Asset Portfolio Condition Report was released by the National Capital Commission (NCC) in 2021 and identified a requirement for an injection of $175 million over 10 years to address the deferred maintenance deficit for all six official residences.

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the official residences and their heritage and cultural value
  • The National Capital Commission is responsible for year-round maintenance and operations for the six official residences and reports annually on capital expenditures incurred at the official residences

If pressed on 24 Sussex:

• 24 Sussex is in critical condition and has been closed to protect the health and safety of residence staff, as well as to ensure the integrity of this heritage asset
• We continue to work closely with the National Capital Commission to develop a plan for the future of the Prime Minister’s Official Residence

In 2017, the NCC commissioned in-depth building condition reports for the largest and most complex buildings in the official residences portfolio. These reports, made public in 2018, found that 58% of the assets in the official residences portfolio were considered to be in ‘poor’ to ‘critical’ condition.

The report highlights the shortfall in funding required to restore and maintain the heritage buildings in this asset portfolio. Since the 2018 report, the NCC has invested approximately $26 million in capital funding on rehabilitation work. Despite these investments, the cost of addressing the portfolio’s deferred maintenance deficit has increased and it is now estimated that an injection of $17.5 million per year, over 10 years — for a total of $175 million — is needed to close the deferred maintenance gap. In addition to this sum, the report identifies a need for $26.1 million in annual funding to cover ongoing maintenance, repair and renovation costs.

24 Sussex Drive is the only main residence within the official residences portfolio that is in “critical” condition. The residence has been unoccupied since 2015 given health and safety concerns and it was officially closed by the NCC in Spring 2023 when employees relocated to permit abatement and decommissioning work. In March 2025, the media reported that the former Prime Minister tasked the Minister of Public Services and Procurement to find a solution within the next year.

Over the last decade, the NCC has completed required work to address key health and safety issues. With the abatement work at 24 Sussex now complete, the future of the residence has garnered public attention, including from previous Prime Ministers.

• The 2021 Asset Portfolio Condition Report found that the overall condition of the Portfolio continues to deteriorate with only 24% of the assets considered to be in “good” condition, down from 34% in 2018
  • The 2022 Fall Economic Statement allocated $332.6 million plus $28.4 million ongoing funding to the National Capital Commission for protecting heritage assets (excluding 24 Sussex)