by: parkirPosted on:

Ford: Put ex-PMs answerable for deciding destiny of 24 Sussex

When a Canadian sports activities columnist describes the prime minister’s residence as a “double-wide trailer,” it’s long gone time for anger.

Not on the perceived “insult,” however that we — that’s all of us Canadians — have let it get to this.

The prime minister’s “official” residence is 24 Sussex Drive. It’s a shame. A lot in order that the present PM and his household haven’t moved in. They reside on the sarcastically named Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Corridor, the house of Canada’s governor-general. Rideau Cottage is so-called as a result of its 14 rooms pale compared to Rideau Corridor’s 175.

The final prime minister to have lived at 24 Sussex was Stephen Harper. (The primary PM to take up residence was Louis St-Laurent in 1951, the yr after it was named the “official” house of the federal government chief.)

St-Laurent all the way down to John Diefenbaker, Lester Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark, John Turner, Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell, Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Harper have taken up residence. And, to an individual, they’ve handed the buck on restoring the “home” to fashionable requirements.

There have been no main renovations prior to now 50 years, and the invention of rat carcasses and their leavings within the partitions has now deemed 24 Sussex — a stone mansion of 34 rooms on 4 acres with a powerful view of the Ottawa River — a definite well being hazard. Cries of “knock it down” are echoing throughout Canada. However this isn’t simply one other previous home in a high-rent district like Calgary’s Mount Royal or Britannia that has been deemed unfit, that is our home, your own home, my home. In-built 1867, its stones carry historic significance. (For a lesson in what occurs when modernity trumps historical past, contemplate the destiny of so a lot of Calgary’s sandstone buildings, demolished in favour of the structure of the second.)

So when former prime minister Chretien got here to Calgary about 10 days in the past, I requested him straight and in particular person about 24 Sussex. I requested if he would lead a non-partisan, all-party committee to advocate for restoring the home again to what ought to be a contemporary residence for a contemporary nation. The reasoning behind the query is straightforward: a succession of profession politicians have occupied 24 Sussex. Regardless of the necessity for upkeep and renovations, none of them had the heart to level out to a rustic that nonetheless many thousands and thousands it could value, it wasn’t for the present occupants however for the nation. (Naturally, in a nation identified for perfecting the tall-poppy syndrome, all prevented making the essential choice fearing public response. Tall poppy? Ought to any Canadian have the effrontery to stay his or her head above the group, we enjoyment of slicing it off. Metaphorically, after all.)

Like most canny politicians, retired or not, Chretien prevented answering the query straight. He instructed some amusing anecdotes about residing there and the issues he and visiting heads of state encountered, however no affirmative or unfavorable response to my query. He did recommend it was a humiliation to the nation.

Interested by the succession of weak-kneed politicians who’ve lived there, it appears to me that the obvious alternative for what to do with the decrepit mansion could be a committee of former prime ministers, none of whom have something to lose or achieve by weighing in. The one “fashionable” prime minister not alive is John Turner. That leaves no less than six, which appears an applicable quantity round a desk.

Why I feel retired prime ministers ought to undertake this matter is straightforward: I’m not naïve, however I’ve hope and optimism. I’ve but to satisfy a politician who didn’t get into politics for one of the best of all doable causes: all of them needed to make this nation higher. (What grinds them down and makes them cynical is the precise soiled enterprise of politics itself.)

As for Chretien, probably the most charming and ruthless politicians I’ve met, his precise response to my query was to recommend Canadians ought to write to their members of Parliament with their feedback about 24 Sussex.

So, Greg McLean, Conservative MP for Calgary Centre with its greater than 97,000 eligible voters, right here is one response to that remark and that is your letter. I await your actions on my behalf.

Catherine Ford is an everyday Herald columnist.