The Canadian government launched a competition on June 24, 2026 [2], to select a domestic firm to design and execute renovations of 24 Sussex Drive [1].
The project aims to restore the official prime ministerial residence in Ottawa, Ontario, which has served as a national historic site but remains uninhabitable. Because the building is a symbol of the office, its continued decay represents a failure in federal heritage maintenance.
The residence has been vacant since 2015 [1] due to severe disrepair. The government intends to restore the property for use by future prime ministers while preserving its historical integrity.
Reports on the announcement contain conflicting accounts regarding the leadership involved. BBC News said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the competition, while a video from The Globe and Mail identified the prime minister as Mark Carney [1, 2].
"We need to restore this iconic building for future generations," Trudeau said [1].
"It's time to act to save the residence," Carney said [2].
Government officials have not disclosed a specific budget for the renovations. The final cost will depend on the proposals submitted by the competing firms [2]. The selection process will prioritize Canadian firms capable of handling the complex requirements of a historic site, balancing modern security and utility with architectural preservation.
The vacant state of the residence has been a point of contention for over a decade. The government's decision to move toward a competitive bidding process for the design phase suggests a formal commitment to returning the site to operational status.
“The residence has been vacant since 2015 due to severe disrepair.”
The move to renovate 24 Sussex Drive addresses a long-standing political embarrassment regarding the neglect of a primary state asset. By launching a competition for a Canadian firm, the government is attempting to frame the restoration as a national project of heritage preservation and domestic economic support, though the lack of a disclosed budget leaves the project's fiscal impact uncertain.
