27/06/2026 10:42 - Internacionales
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday, June 26, 2026, a national competition for architects aimed at revitalizing 24 Sussex Drive, the official residence that has remained vacant for years due to its extreme deterioration.
The 35-room building, located in Ottawa overlooking the river, has housed 11 prime ministers since the government acquired it in 1951. Originally named Gorffwysfa (a Welsh term meaning "the place of peace"), the property has become quite the opposite: an uninhabitable shell.
| Estimated cost: | C$40 million |
| Winner announcement: | July 1, 2027 (Canada Day) |
| Jury: | Royal Architectural Institute of Canada |
| Jury President: | Moshe Safdie |
| Current PM residence: | Rideau Cottage |
While 10 Downing Street (the British Prime Minister's residence) has had a special official to combat rodents since 2011, Canada lacks a similar figure.
The "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office" is an official British title created in 1929, when the Treasury authorized a budget of one penny daily to maintain "an efficient cat." Currently, Larry has held the position since February 15, 2011, becoming the first cat to receive the title officially.
The history of British government cats dates back to the 16th century, under the reign of Henry VIII. The longest-serving cat was Peter III, who served more than 16 years under five different prime ministers (1947-1964).
The deterioration of 24 Sussex Drive is not new. Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister between 1993 and 2003, took journalists to see the buckets collecting rainwater from the leaking roof. Only after a storm tore off sections of the roof did he secure necessary repairs.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) closed the residence in 2023 for security reasons. In 2024, they removed asbestos, lead, mold, and rodent remains, leaving the building empty but with an estimated renovation cost of C$40 million.
"At a time when much of the world is battered by crises, Canada's history, our institutions, and our traditions matter more than ever. 24 Sussex Drive will be built by Canadians for Canadians."
The Prime Minister emphasized that the building must be a home for future families of those who lead the country, and that he will not live there due to reconstruction timelines.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
