The National Capital Commission (NCC) announced Thursday that it will relocate staff to the property and begin planning to remove old pieces of equipment that raise safety concerns. “With continued aging and deterioration of materials and systems, more significant measures must be taken to mitigate issues of major concern, such as potential fire hazards, water damage and air quality issues,” the NCC said in a media statement. “The relocation of workers and the closure of the site is required to prevent these concerns from materializing.” The building’s condition is listed as “critical” on the Treasury website, and the residence is estimated to need $36.6 million worth of repairs. ONE recent NCC report stated that the residence should be replaced as it is not fit to serve as the home of a great world leader. That report concluded that “the overall condition of official housing continues to deteriorate due to chronic chronic underfunding,” NCC spokesperson Dominique Huras told CBC News at the time. Due to the condition of the building, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lived on the grounds of Rideau Hall with his family since he was elected in 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for a press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic outside his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) The NCC said in Monday’s statement that it will begin planning to eliminate some safety hazards — including asbestos and outdated heating and electrical equipment — while the government decides what to do with the property. “The work to be carried out as part of this project must be completed regardless of any future decision on the residence,” the NCC statement said. In January, Trudeau said the government would evaluate its options before deciding what to do with the residence. When asked Thursday if the government had developed further plans for the future of the building, the office of Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek said no decision had been made. “We are working closely with the NCC to develop a plan for the future of 24 Sussex Drive,” a spokesperson from Jaczek’s office said in an email.
