Turning Rideau Cottage into the permanent residence of the prime minister would have to include creating staff offices and other 害羞草研究所渞esidential infrastructure,害羞草研究所� an internal government document says.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been living in the house on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the Governor General害羞草研究所檚 residence, since he came into office.

Making that situation more permanent is one of three options the government is considering as the historic home for Canada害羞草研究所檚 prime ministers, 24 Sussex Drive, sits in disrepair after decades of neglect.

The saga over what to do next lands in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, as the Liberals struggle to soothe Canadians害羞草研究所� anxieties about affordability and are chided by the Opposition Conservatives for their spending.

害羞草研究所淎ny decision for the future of 24 Sussex Drive will not be taken lightly. We have an obligation to preserve landmarks of national importance,害羞草研究所� a spokesman for Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, said in a statement.

A decision has been pending for years.

The three options under consideration include 害羞草研究所渆stablishing Rideau Cottage as the permanent residence,害羞草研究所� according to a heavily redacted briefing note prepared for Privy Council Office staff last May.

The document, labelled 害羞草研究所渟ecret,害羞草研究所� was released to The Canadian Press under access-to-information law.

害羞草研究所淯nder this option, the (National Capital Commission) would invest to address lacking residential infrastructure 害羞草研究所� kitchen, laundry, garage and staff offices.害羞草研究所�

The state of 24 Sussex caused Trudeau and his family to choose Rideau Cottage when he was elected in 2015, rather than the official residence where he lived as a child when his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was prime minister.

The National Capital Commission declined to say whether any renovations have been to done to address the lacking infrastructure at Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 current home.

Another option the federal government is considering is rebuilding 24 Sussex altogether.

That would mean constructing a new 害羞草研究所渕odern facility with limited heritage elements,害羞草研究所� such as the building害羞草研究所檚 stone facade, according to the briefing note.

A 2021 report from the commission on the state of its assets said there was $36 million worth of deferred maintenance to complete at 24 Sussex, not including security or other infrastructure upgrades.

The new document says staff are also looking at Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 ritzy Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood as a location for a new residence. Specifically, they are looking at a parking lot on land owned by the National Capital Commission.

Duclos害羞草研究所� office said it害羞草研究所檚 discussing options with the commission and stakeholders.

害羞草研究所淣oting that there has not been any significant investment in over 60 years, this ambitious work is ongoing and will balance security needs with universal accessibility, historic preservation and aspects of environmental sustainability,害羞草研究所� it said.

Trudeau said in a 2018 interview that no prime minister wants to spend a dime of taxpayer money on that site.

Commission spokeswoman Val茅rie Dufour says the NCC is waiting for the government to make a decision on 24 Sussex. In the meantime, workers are gutting the building, which closed in late 2022 to address outstanding health and safety concerns.

害羞草研究所淲e have removed all the plaster and drywall in the residence, leaving only the framing, as it contained designated substances such as asbestos and lead paint,害羞草研究所� Dufour said Friday.

害羞草研究所淧rior to this abatement, heritage fabric, such as doors and mouldings, was carefully removed, catalogued and stored for possible future reinstatement.害羞草研究所�

The commission maintains that the work needs to happen regardless of what decision is made about the crumbling mansion.

Workers are not touching the property害羞草研究所檚 1975 pool and sauna house, which is 害羞草研究所渘o longer in operation,害羞草研究所� Dufour said.

The briefing document says it害羞草研究所檚 languishing in 害羞草研究所渃ritical condition and poses numerous risks to users,害羞草研究所� including 害羞草研究所渉igh risk of fire害羞草研究所� from an aged electrical system, and 害羞草研究所減est control issues.害羞草研究所�

It says the estimated cost of making the building safe again ranges into the millions.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press