Thank you, Minister Lightbound. Good morning.
Last month, I had the privilege of announcing His Majesty’s approval of Canada’s new Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour.
I ended those remarks with the same point I will begin mine with today.
“At a time when much of the world is buffeted by crises, Canada’s history, our institutions, and our traditions matter more than ever.”
While these foundations are expressed in language, practised in custom and convention, and enshrined in law, they can also take physical form.
They are made of timber and stone.
They stand as landmarks, as testaments in which we recognise ourselves.
In a world experiencing profound shifts, these places give us grounding. They bring us back to ourselves and remind us of the values that unite us.
They help us stay true to who we are, even as the world around us keeps changing.
24 Sussex Drive is nearly as old as our country.
First built in 1868, it sits on a rise above the meeting of three rivers: the Ottawa, the Rideau, and the Gatineau.
It was home to 10 of Canada’s prime ministers, from Louis St. Laurent to Stephen Harper.
For more than 75 years, this house has welcomed leaders from around the world, among them: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Winston Churchill, and President John F. Kennedy.
24 Sussex Drive is more than a residence, greater than a mere backdrop to history. It is a symbol of the public office of the head of our federal government, and of the democratic tradition that office represents.
Yet, it has not been cared for with the respect it deserves.
After decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, this house sits empty. It has been uninhabitable for more than a decade.
For years, many agreed that 24 Sussex should be saved, but it was left to languish. So, the damage spread. The repair costs climbed. And now it is in critical condition.
Today, our government is acting to renew this building and restore this institution, to preserve our history and protect our heritage and traditions for generations to come.
Because continuity matters.
A nation is more than the people who live in it today. It includes everyone who came before us, and everyone who will come after. Our institutions are how we carry forward what we were given, and how we pass it on – at least intact, ideally improved – to those who follow.
24 Sussex Drive is one of these institutions. We will not let it crumble. We will set it right.
Today, we are launching a national design-and-build competition to restore 24 Sussex Drive, so it becomes – once again – a secure, accessible, and sustainable official residence and a working venue for Canada’s future prime ministers.
We will do this in a manner that reflects the very best of Canada.
And to achieve that, we will call on our leading talent.
The design‑and-build competition to restore 24 Sussex Drive will be open to Canadian firms, ensuring that Canadian expertise, creativity, and excellence are at the heart of this project.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada will help define the parameters of the competition and will convene an independent jury of exceptional Canadians – leaders in architecture, heritage conservation, and design.
The jury will be chaired by Moshe Safdie, one of the world’s most acclaimed architects. He is the visionary behind the National Gallery of Canada, Vancouver’s Library Square, Habitat 67 – the bold architectural feat created for Expo 67 – and many other landmark projects around the globe.
We are calling for proposals that are ambitious, achievable, and cost-effective.
The jury will provide key input to assess the proposals and make their recommendation to Cabinet. The winning team will be responsible for both the design and the reconstruction of 24 Sussex.
They will need a credible, disciplined plan to see it through.
A plan to bring the building to life on time and to a standard worthy of the country it serves.
We are turning to the most innovative Canadian architects, designers, and builders to find the most ambitious, exciting, and affordable solutions.
The winning proposal will be announced by Canada Day next year.
To further reduce costs for the government, the Rideau Hall Foundation will lead a national fundraising campaign, with the goal of securing all or most of the funds required to carry out the project.
This initiative will give Canadians, as well as philanthropic organisations across the country, the opportunity to contribute directly to the revitalisation of an iconic site that belongs to each of us.
I would like to express my personal and deep gratitude to prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien for advocating for the renovation of 24 Sussex as the residence of the Prime Minister. I would also like to thank former prime ministers Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Paul Martin, and Justin Trudeau, who – together with Mila Mulroney – have expressed their support for the renovation.
As with everything our government undertakes, it is not just about what we build.
It is about how and why we build.
24 Sussex Drive will be built by Canadians for Canadians.
Our institutions do not remain strong and enduring on their own. Each generation must choose to renew them – to repair what has been neglected and to strengthen the foundations on which future generations will rely.
That is the choice we are making today.
And we will do it the Canadian way, by drawing on Canada’s talent, expertise, and excellence.
While 24 Sussex Drive is a symbol of the office it serves, it must also be a home.
The women and men who will lead our country in the future will need a residence for their families.
I may not look it, but my kids are already grown. And I will never, in any event, live in 24 Sussex Drive. But future prime ministers will undoubtedly need to raise their children here as they lead our country. We will restore this property so they may do so safely and securely.
I – and all public officials – are stewards of the offices we hold. We do not own them. We serve them to serve Canadians.
We have a responsibility to leave things better than we found them.
But our responsibility is not only to honour those who will hold these offices after us. We also have a duty to Canadians to preserve and strengthen the institutions that belong to each of us.
Let me close with this.
Canadians rightly expect their leaders to make decisions where the benefits may only be realised long after they are in office.
That is the type of decision we are making today.
Because good stewardship demands it.
Because Canadians rightly expect it.
And because the future of our institutions depends on us leaving them better than we found them. We must apply this principle comprehensively, not selectively.
Thank you.