Back in May, Auditor General Sheila Fraser released a report saying that 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence of the prime minister, was falling apart:
Fraser said Tuesday that 24 Sussex Drive has not undergone a major renovation in 50 years, and needs extensive work to fix the plumbing, air conditioning, windows and electrical system. The work would require the prime minister to move out of 24 Sussex for up to 15 months. …
No prime minister, including the incumbent, wants to leave 24 Sussex for the length of time required to do the repairs. In a scrum that followed the release of the AG's report last May, I asked Dion if he would be prepared to maek that sacrifice:
Me: Mr. Dion, if you became prime minister, would you spend the $10 million to fix up 24 Sussex and leave the place for 15 months? It is a green tragedy, there is a terrible waste of energy over there.
Stéphane Dion: Thank you. I like the question. I just want to say that it is a historic building. It belongs to the Canadian people. So if the NCC, the National Capital Commission makes it a priority and the budget exists, my family will not be the problem. We will do what the NCC is asking us to do because it belongs to the Canadian people. I’m very confidence that I will be prime minister. I don’t know if I will live at Sussex.
Earlier this week, the Citizen's Mohammed Adam reported that the National Capital Commission has started negotiations with the PMO to see if the Harper family can move out, likely to 8 Rideau Gate. That could be where Prime Minister Dion moves in, if in fact, he does what he said he would back in May.