Canadian PM's residence needs $10 million to remove Asbestos

Note: The official residence of the Canadian Prime Minister is riddled with asbestos. Some people think it should be removed, I think he should be locked in there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until he agrees to ban the use of asbestos in Canada and the export of asbestos from Canada!

---------------------------------------------------------------Laurie Kazan-Allen

PM's residence needs $10 million in repairs

Updated Wed. May. 7 2008

CTV.ca News

The prime minister and his family may have to pack up and find a new temporary home if they heed the advice of Canada's auditor general.

A report released by Sheila Fraser on Tuesday states that "24 Sussex Drive (is) showing signs of fatigue and wear, and (requires) extensive repair work."

The repairs are estimated to cost about $10 million, and the report notes that "prolonged access to 24 Sussex Drive will be required for rehabilitation of the residence." That would require the prime minister and his family to move out for up to 15 months.

On CTV's Mike Duffy Live, Fraser listed off a number of repairs that need to be made. She said:
The windows are extremely old
There is a lot of asbestos in the house
The residence does not have a sprinkler system

"The list goes on and on," Fraser said.

"We note in the report that there have been no repairs to 24 Sussex in 50 years. I think we can all appreciate in our own homes that you have to do this regular upgrading and maintenance on a very frequent basis," she said.

John Williamson of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says he doesn't believe most people will have a problem with making the repairs. But he said what politicians should be concerned about is going over budget, as has been the case with similar public projects in the past. He also said the $10 million price tag for repairs may baffle some taxpayers.

"You see this cost and Canadians think, 'What on Earth will they be putting in to 24 Sussex that it would cost so much,'" Williams said on Mike Duffy Live.

Fraser said that 24 Sussex and Rideau Hall -- which Fraser's report said needs some repairs to its exterior -- are not like regular homes.

"They also have official functions and so require very particular facilities ... There are systems that go in there that would not go into an ordinary home," Fraser said.

Harper has said he thinks 24 Sussex is in adequate condition for now and that he has no plans to move out before the next election.

Some facts on 24 Sussex:

Built in 1866 by a private owner who was also a member of parliament
Called "Gorffwysta" or "place of rest" by its original owner
Purchased by the government in 1943
Situated on 4 acres of property along the Ottawa River
The building has 34 rooms
Pierre Trudeau added a swimming pool
Kim Campbell has been the only prime minister not to live in the residence since Ottawa purchased the home