24 Sussex fundraising sidesteps political minefield of direct taxpayer spending

The Rideau Hall Foundation's private donation campaign for 24 Sussex Drive restoration avoids the politically explosive question of whether taxpayers should fund the prime minister's residence. By positioning the project as a shared civic effort rather than a parliamentary appropriation, successive governments have sidestepped a debate that has stalled remediation efforts for years. Full restoration is estimated above $36 million — public money will likely follow.