A friend of mine from British Columbia was reading one of my pieces in today's papers:
Canadians may never give him the job, of course, but if they do one day pick Michael Ignatieff to be their prime minister, Ignatieff promises he won't live at 24 Sussex Drive until the 141-year-old building has a long overdue refit.
The famous address overlooking the Ottawa River is the prime minister's official residence. But its occupants, stretching back at least to Brian Mulroney, have been reluctant to give the place up in order to make repairs that have become increasingly costly and urgent.
Not Mr. Ignatieff.
"Zsuzsanna and I will check into the hotel," Mr. Ignatieff said in an exclusive year-end interview with Canwest News Service and Global National.
"It's a very good question. I think it is time for somebody to take one for the team, so we'll move into the Chateau or the Elgin [two downtown Ottawa hotels] for three or four years and let us get a residence for the prime minister that makes the country proud." [Read the rest of "Ignatieff would forgo PM’s official residence"]
After reading the piece, he sent me this clever note:
"Being from BC, I am able to offer to do those 24 Sussex Dr. renos for a casino licence."
Tags: 24 Sussex Drive, Michael Ignatieff, Glen Glark, scandals
This seems a strange comment for a year-end interview, particularly given the slim chance of an election any time soon.
Did you actually ask Ignatieff what he would do in regard to 24 Susex if he became PM, or did he volunteer the information, David ?
I asked him. I asked Dion, too. And, had I the chance, I would have asked Harper when he was opposition leader. The place needs serious repairs — so says the bureaucrats at the National Capital Commmission and Auditor General Sheila Fraser. I think it's important to put any opposition leader on the record over the this heritage building before they win office.
The Liberals, were they in power, could get that $10,000,000 job done for half that amount. All they'd have to do is give the job to some well known supporter who would donate the other 50% to the Liberal Party. It's sponsorship and that gets things done. Oh, how the money rolls in!!