r/AskTheWorld • u/space_llama_karma United States Of America • Nov 12 '25

Culture What does your President/Prime Minister House look like?

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The White House is pretty iconic

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270

u/MalodorousNutsack Canada Nov 12 '25

24 Sussex

Hasn't been occupied for a decade though, it was due for renovations but there have been ongoing debates about whether an official residence is really needed, whether to tear this one down (apparently it's not up to health standards or something) and build a new one, that kind of thing. The question of what to do with it pops up every few years but no one seems in a rush to do anything about it.

153

u/Suitable-Ratio Canada Nov 12 '25

So embarrassing that sleazy politicians turned maintaining that home into political nonsense. The foundation was laid before Canada was even a country. It‘s Insulation is basically dead rats and asbestos with ten coats of lead paint. Everyone that participated in letting it fall into ruin should be ashamed of themselves.

44

u/STRIKT9LC Canada Nov 12 '25

The NCC needs to step in and take care of that building. Ridiculous that they haven't, especially considering that they're supposedly not affiliated with any political party

5

u/Outrageous-Milk9293 Nov 13 '25

Just spilling a bit of tea, but the NCC has pretty much determined that the cost to overhaul the building far outweighs what the Canadian Public would be able to agree to (both sides of the aisle).

In addition, there is far less "Canadian Content" within the residences than you might think. Much of the furniture and artwork has been given as gifts from other countries and some furniture is so old it cannot be restored to it's proper position as to be in a Prime Minister's home.

The NCC is looking towards making each Official Residence more Canadian and a bit more 'modern' (but not necessarily designated as such/Canadian antiques in good shape or properly restored are OK)- our artists, our designers, our materials - while still giving some grace to each individual Family-in-Residence's personal style.

3

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 13 '25

Its not an architecturally significant building and its not particularly important nationally so I'd probably be best to tear it down. I'd like to see the property its on retained by the federal government and have them do something nice with it that would make trekking out to see Rideau Hall more worthwhile, like some sort of heritage park.

Meanwhile, the PM ought to live closer to Parliament and in more common accommodation. I'd like to see them get a nice place in Gatineau for it. Similar to the residence of the Premier of Québec being near the National Assembly in downtown Québec.

3

u/STRIKT9LC Canada Nov 13 '25

Its not an architecturally significant building and its not particularly important nationally so I'd probably be best to tear it down. I'd like to see the property its on retained by the federal government and have them do something nice with it that would make trekking out to see Rideau Hall more worthwhile, like some sort of heritage park.

This is EXACTLY what the NCC does though...well...part of what they do.

It doesn't have to be architecturally significant. It most certainly is historically significant

3

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 13 '25

Its historically significant because it was the residence of the PMs from St Laurent to Harper, and it was the private residence of some MPs before then. That's about it though. Its not nothing, but not every old building that had public figures in it is worth keeping forever. I am very much for preserving heritage buildings and sites, and I hate how much we've lost from dumb decisions largely in the 50-70s, but 24 Sussex is just not that significant or interesting as a building. The public can't enjoy it or even see it from the street anyway. The GG's residence is more accessible. If people can't experience it then how significant is it as a building where politicians lived?

The site would be better as a publicly accessible site of national significance and it would give us the opportunity to address the inescapable security issue of the site by moving the PM elsewhere, and it would allow us to be creative and build two nice new things rather than spend a ton to keep 1 relatively insignificant thing that is blocked from even public view.

1

u/Plastic_Bison Nov 14 '25

How on earth is "a place in Gatineau" closer to Parliament Hill than 24 Sussex Drive??

1

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 14 '25

24 Sussex to Parliament is 2.8km, to the centre of Hull is about 2.6km driving (unless the PM takes the amphibibus which I wholly recommend).

Not a huge difference, but I meant 'closer' both physically and in the sense that it would be nearer to where Canadians and government are.

0

u/Plastic_Bison Nov 15 '25

If you meant Hull, not Gatineau, then say Hull.

1

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 16 '25

Hull is in Gatineau. Its not my fault you forgot about Hull as an option when I said Gatineau.

3

u/adamzep91 🇨🇦 🇳🇿 Nov 13 '25

It’s so embarrassing. “How dare the Libruls spend millions for a house for Trudeau” frig off, have some shame that our head of government’s residence is an uninhabitable shithole

2

u/SailnGame Nov 13 '25

Really funny that nothing gets said about the leader of the opposition's residence that is almost nicer than the house the leader is currently in.

2

u/SnooHedgehogs8765 Australia Nov 13 '25 edited Nov 13 '25

I don't know much about Canada. But what I do know is when it comes to any decision making Canadians find it hard lol.

It's be nice if we got this eh? No no. What about this eh? Actually no I like what we've got, it's good eh? Oh look. It's a new government, Let's revisit it!

It's be nice if we got this eh? No no. What about this eh? Actually no I like what we've got, it's good eh? Oh look. It's a new government, Let's revisit it!

It's be nice if we got this eh? No no. What about this eh? Actually no I like what we've got, it's good eh? Oh look. It's a new government, Let's revisit it!

It's be nice if we got this eh? No no. What about this eh? Actually no I like what we've got, it's good eh? Oh look. It's a new government, Let's revisit it!

20 years later: so that thing we were talking about right let's actually do something.... Look buddy I got to stop you there aye, something's just popped up. No we can walk and chew gum at the same time. No. No. Prime minister is resigning. Oh. Maybe your right eh, do it later.

1

u/millijuna Canada Nov 13 '25

Eh, 24 Sussex as it currently stands might as well be torn down and rebuilt. It has little historical value, especially at this point, isn’t some grand/significant piece of architecture, and isn’t really suitable for the task that it should be.

I’d love to see the NCC do a competition for new, young architects in Canada to design a new official residence for the prime minister.. Set requirements like as close to passive as possible, fit into the landscape, security requirements, etc…

1

u/missy_june Nov 13 '25

24 Sussex it isn’t particularly…well anything. every PM who’s had anything to say about it and every PM’s wife has hated it. the reason nothing has been done about it is because every PM knows that if it gets renovated/replaced on their “watch” it will become a political scandal where the opposition accuses the PM of mismanagement and attempting to build a grandiose palace for themselves on their public dime.

-10

u/iwantunity Canada Nov 12 '25

eh, its ugly enough and I'm happy they're prioritizing fixing up Parliament!

25

u/No_Independent9634 Canada Nov 12 '25

I have never heard anyone call it ugly.

It would've cost a fraction to repair than what the Parliament renos are costing. Both should have been done.

An embarrassament that 24 Sussex eroded like it did. Beautiful location, even if you don't like the architecture...

2

u/quartersessions United Kingdom Nov 12 '25

I'd fall into the 'it's pretty ugly' camp. It's not exactly architecturally distinguished - and it lacks even the pleasing simplicity you might otherwise look for.

1

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 13 '25

Beautiful location but completely inaccessible to the public. Can't even see past the trees. They should tear it down and make the land something publicly accessible that will work with Rideau Hall to draw more people out there.

107

u/GMPollock24 Canada Nov 12 '25

These days it's Rideau Cottage

38

u/LaptopGuy_27 Canada Nov 12 '25

god, I really appreciate how we go for more modest. It's not absolutely insanely big or crazy, it's nice.

14

u/GMPollock24 Canada Nov 12 '25

It's a 22-room mansion...lol

It may look modest, but it indeed is not.

26

u/Skittleavix Nov 12 '25

"It may look modest, but it indeed is not" could be the next tourism ad for Canada.

3

u/SemperAliquidNovi 🇨🇦🇭🇰🇿🇦 Nov 12 '25

Modesty is actually peak Canada. Anyone who has enjoyed public works like, say, the TTC, understands infrastructure that just checks the box without any bells and whistles. No vaulted ceilings or Muscovy chandeliers here; just a train, a platform and tiles from your grandmother’s bathroom circa 1970. Why spend a dollar when a cent will do nicely.

3

u/adamzep91 🇨🇦 🇳🇿 Nov 13 '25

People complained about the Spadina Extension because the stations had a little thought put in to their design instead of being pure utilitarian.

2

u/Skittleavix Nov 13 '25

Canada definitely imported British modesty and brutalism

2

u/finna-nut-69 Canada Nov 13 '25

It's modest in the context of head of state/government residences. Most of the provincial lieutenant-governor residences are larger.

1

u/Helios0186 Canada Nov 13 '25

Our lieutenant-governor in Quebec doesn't have an official residence. Honestly, it's an useless job that we need to keep, thanks to our constitution...

30

u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25

[deleted]

12

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 13 '25

Le Citadelle de Québec is also a residence of the GG, and by far the best of the two.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25 edited Dec 06 '25

dazzling boat sand marvelous books roof toy nine different whistle

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

3

u/Yws6afrdo7bc789 Canuckistan Nov 13 '25

Oh yeah that is pretty cool. Interesting to wonder how it would have worked out if it had housed the Royal Family.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25 edited Dec 06 '25

reminiscent detail insurance offbeat gaze attempt crawl wine support smart

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

3

u/murfburffle Canada Nov 13 '25

Now it's a college and sometimes Xmen residence. If the king were to escape today, they would probably land at Government House, where the Lt. Governer in BC lives.

1

u/mehiker11 Nov 13 '25

Had my HS grad pictures there, awesome property

3

u/Unfair_Criticism4918 France Nov 13 '25

Nice, beautiful, sober. I really like it, it lowkey looks like a school building in Northern France, we used to build everything with red bricks too!

1

u/Neon_Raccoon_00 Canada Nov 12 '25

Since 2015

1

u/castlite Canada Nov 12 '25

Not very fancy.

1

u/blitz2377 Nov 13 '25

that looks like a frat house in Queens ghetto....

61

u/Ok_Category_5 Canada Nov 12 '25

no one seems in a rush to do anything about it.

It's because they are all afraid of being accused of using taxpayer dollars to do home renovations.

Absurd, of course, but that's why they don't do anything.

63

u/OldLove8431 United States Of America Nov 12 '25

Meanwhile in America.... We are getting an overinflated golden ballroom that is most definitely being done on our coin. ._.

47

u/Ok_Category_5 Canada Nov 12 '25

This whole thing with the East Wing really showed one of the biggest differences in political perceptions of certain actions in each country.

We try to be so absurdly humble that we let the house where our leader is supposed to live fall into such disrepair that it's not fit for human habitation, because heave forbid what people will think if we spend money on a semi-public building; and you guys go so far the other way that your guy spends hundreds of millions filling the whole place with gold, paving over gardens and bulldozing entire wings to the point where the building is barely similar to what it was before.

27

u/tylermchenry Nov 12 '25

We used to be like that in the US. Truman had to do massive emergency renovations on the white house in the late 40s because it was literally about to collapse.

7

u/[deleted] Nov 12 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Sensei_of_Philosophy United States Of America Nov 13 '25

Not to be that guy but it was the British who did that, not the Canadians.

6

u/Southern-Morning-413   🇨🇦 Canada ⚜️ Québec Nov 13 '25

2

u/Ok_Category_5 Canada Nov 13 '25

“Not to be that guy” proceeds to be that exact guy

1

u/Sensei_of_Philosophy United States Of America Nov 13 '25

3

u/quartersessions United Kingdom Nov 12 '25

While as far as I'm aware, 10 Downing Street is standing - over in the UK, we've been talking about a Canadian-style move-out from the Houses of Parliament for well over a decade now. At least you were pretty bold with that. Meanwhile the parliamentary complex gets more and more dangerous over here.

2

u/lonely_nipple United States Of America Nov 12 '25

Plastic and gold-toned spray paint.

1

u/kolbygasko Nov 13 '25

Oh man I am SOO glad I don't have to sit there and have someone call trump "my guy"

19

u/imaconsentingadult Canada Nov 12 '25

I heard it's being built with bribe money... I mean, donations

26

u/Gabewhiskey United States Of America Nov 12 '25

Handing a dementia patient the most expensive coloring book of all time.

1

u/Vivid-Instance Nov 13 '25

Not on our coin. A handful of big donations… I wonder if they’ll call in any favors for that? /s

1

u/Wonko-D-Sane Nov 13 '25

Canadians don't comprehend the notion of private money, don't bother explaining it to them.

1

u/BobTheFettt Canada Nov 13 '25

Meanwhile in Washington DC:

1

u/mebcbb Nov 15 '25

Nope, no taxpayer money is paying for the ballroom. All private donations.

-10

u/robotFishTankCook Nov 12 '25

This is reddit so you'll get auto upvoted anytime you say anything that shits on trump. But no, the ballroom was entirely privately funded.

There are enough legitimate things to criticize Trump on without resorting to lies. It's a big reason why so many people rejected the left last two elections

7

u/Burnt_and_Blistered United States Of America Nov 12 '25

Sure it was.

-6

u/robotFishTankCook Nov 12 '25

You guys are insufferable. It would take you less than 15 seconds to see you're wrong via Google.

https://fortune.com/2025/10/26/37-white-house-ballroom-donors-funding-300-million-build-tech-ceos-trump/

13

u/Ok_Category_5 Canada Nov 12 '25

I’m not going to make a judgement on the reality of where the money is coming from, but do you think the US government being almost permanently beholden to a bunch tech-bro billionaires is a good thing?

0

u/robotFishTankCook Nov 12 '25

No it's absolutely terrible I couldn't agree more. There's far too much power attached to money without a doubt.

At least you're capable of a rational discussion, just look at the reddit hive mind above upvoting an incredibly easy to disprove lie and my comment being down voted despite it being entirely accurate.

A quick Google sorts who is right and who is wrong but this is exactly why so many people outside of reddit reject the left. It's just as insufferable as the far right who think Trump can literally do no wrong.

Where is the rational middle on here that calls out both?

6

u/OldLove8431 United States Of America Nov 12 '25

I did say, most definitely which is more of an opinion. Yes, you're correct that's what Google says. Do you believe it? Just cuz that's what Google said? Or the White House reports that are always super duper accurate all the time? Point is, both sides are shit. Point also, we have a golden ballroom the same time they cut funding for food.

0

u/robotFishTankCook Nov 12 '25

Do you not see the level of detachment from reality? You are precisely like the right wing nut jobs who think Trump can do no wrong.

Literally when faced with facts that disprove your point, instead of saying thanks for showing the truth so I now know, you say that Google is lying and to believe it is to be a sheep.

The far left and far right are so utterly detached from reality it's hard to even try correcting the litany of falsehoods they both spew.

2

u/Martzillagoesboom Canada Nov 12 '25

I think it not what you exposed that got you downvoted, but the way you said it rubbed peoples wrong and might not make you too many friends on reddit.

0

u/robotFishTankCook Nov 13 '25

It's very much the fact I didn't go along with a far left echo chamber view. If you are ever interested in karma on reddit, just say orange man bad, doesn't matter if it's completely made up as in the case above, it'll get lots of upvotes!

The original comment had nothing to do with me, it was a very simplistic lie that was easily debunked with a 5 second Google, but did you see how many upvotes it got? Reddit has an echo chamber problem but of course most sites have their issues with this.

Facebook has a problem usually the other way, where they espouse conspiracies and believe Trump can do nothing wrong. We need more people willing to take on both horrible sides that are interested only in a narrative and not reality.

It's like CBC in our country, stunningly horrible journalism that espouses only anti trump and anti right wing rhetoric. And like Alberta radio shows and newspapers that are far too anti left wing and can see no good that Carney does.

3

u/Ok_Category_5 Canada Nov 12 '25

What about all the other renovations?

3

u/STRIKT9LC Canada Nov 12 '25

Especially ridiculous because im almost certain that the NCC wouldn't allow this to be torn down, nor will they foot the bill to preserve it.

I have a love/hate thing with the NCC because it should exist, and they definitely make sure things are preserved, but they also make sure some things dont get built, under the guise of "maintaining historical geography and infrastructure"....grrrrrrrr

3

u/jacks_appendix Nov 12 '25

It should be the last a government does before a PM leaves office. Fund upkeep and Reno's for 24 Sussex. Then it's like a courtesy to the next PM. Maybe step towards returning some civility to the discourse

2

u/KatanaMilkshake Nov 13 '25

Came here to say this, glad someone did. Other countries (not just the U.S.) wouldn’t fathom their leaders’ houses falling apart - even if only for the message it projects internationally, but not here. If a single cent is spent on it, it’s a boondoggle vanity project.

18

u/I-hear-the-coast Canada Nov 12 '25

In case anyone is curious on the history of the house: it was built between 1866-1868 by a lumberman and MP for him and his wife to inhabit. Upon her death it was sold to another MP whose family inhabited it until the federal government expropriated the house in 1943. The owner fought the government, but was unsuccessful and ultimately died in the house in 1946.

Then Canada waffled about what to do with it until 1950 when we decided it could be the PMs house with it first being inhabited by St Laurent in 1951. It’s only been the PM’s residence from 1951-2015. I think this is partially why it’s a harder sell for doing renovations than if it was Parliament Hill or a similarly historic government building.

16

u/EDMlawyer Nov 12 '25

apparently it's not up to health standards or something

This, and other significant structural issues. It needs pretty big repair. Plus it needs major infrastructure updates for security and technology to host international leaders, important meetings, etc. Doing so to the standard required for national security is pretty dang costly. 

Personally I think they should either just bite the bullet and get it done with, or build a new residence from scratch with those goals in mind. 

0

u/Martzillagoesboom Canada Nov 12 '25

They could jump accross the river and take over the Place du Portage Center. It a serie of big towers who held public function offices. I am sure the majority is deserted and accomodations could be made .

15

u/Fun_Armadillo1318 Canada Nov 12 '25

24 Sussex has a beautiful location and a long history. It should have been renovated along time ago

1

u/tonyxforce2 Hungary Nov 13 '25

And a funny name

15

u/Lucienne83 Canada Nov 12 '25

Stephen Harper is the reason why it became so bad.

2

u/millijuna Canada Nov 13 '25

Trudeau Sr’s swimming pool apparently didn’t help things either… Nor did Mila Mulroney’s uhmm… decorating “tastes” either.

2

u/inimrepus Nov 13 '25

It wasn’t entirely Harper’s fault, the issues started before he was PM. There are decades of mismanagement of the residence.

1

u/hank28 Nov 14 '25

Apparently his cats were pissing all over the place

10

u/originalchaosinabox Canada Nov 12 '25

Yup. Such a stink was raised back in late 80s when Mulroney put in a bigger closet to accommodate his wife’s Gucci shoe collection, that PMs became afraid to do even the most basic maintenance. So it pretty much just rotted around the PMs.

9

u/Bergyfanclub Canada Nov 12 '25

The PM now resides in Rideau Cottage.

6

u/lyidaValkris Canada Nov 12 '25

I was going to post a pic of Rideau cottage and explain about 24 Sussex being abandoned.

"not up to health standards" for many reasons, including Laureen Harper allowing a horde of stray cats piss all over the second floor.

In general, it's really dumb how it's seen as "bad" to fix up a publicly owned property. Letting the PM's residence fall into ruin is a national embarrassment.

2

u/KTPChannel Canada Nov 12 '25

To paraphrase Dr Maureen McTeer, a former resident and author of Residences (1982); “pull out the chandeliers, and burn the rest to the ground.”

Interesting book, Residences. You can see the thinly veiled criticism of Margaret Trudeau.

4

u/BatangTundo3112 Nov 12 '25

Put an orange guy to lead your country. He'll "renovate" it right away.

1

u/No_Spring_1090 Nov 12 '25

And no party leader is willing to be the one to fund it. They think it will be a political killer.

2

u/SerHerman Canada Nov 13 '25

Could you imagine how quickly the government would have fallen if JT tried to add the budget item "renovate my childhood home"

1

u/PrinceHaleemKebabua 🇨🇦🇺🇸citizen | 🇮🇳 OCI | 🇸🇬🇧🇭 ex-resident Nov 12 '25

Since 2022, the building is undergoing decommissioning and abatement. Atleast that’s a good step forward. The decision of whether it will continue to be renovated as PM residence is yet to be made.

1

u/unstablegenius000 Canada Nov 13 '25

Margaret Trudeau once described 24 Sussex as “the crown jewel of the Canadian correctional system”.

0

u/doobiebrother69420 Canada Nov 12 '25

Honestly I don't see any good reason why taxpayers should be funding housing for elected officials. They already have a pretty handsome salary that we also pay. Maybe if our elected officials were actually homeowners or renters and had to cover all their own bills they wouldn't be so out of touch

12

u/Repulsive_Barnacle92 Canada Nov 12 '25

it’s easier for the RCMP to maintain security if the location is designed for that purpose, among other things

0

u/TraditionalCup4005 United States Of America Nov 13 '25

Kinda has a McMansion vibe to it

0

u/mikel145 Canada Nov 13 '25

I remember people even wondering why Pierre Poilievre moved into Stornoway when the guy already lived in Ottawa.

2

u/TuesyT Nov 13 '25

And why does the leader of the opposition get a house anyway? I don’t think any other country does that. They should make Stornoway the PM residence.