The state of 24 Sussex is an insult to Canada |
24 Sussex Drive on the banks of the Ottawa River in October, 2015.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Chris Westdal is a retired Canadian ambassador interested in the quality of our public institutions and establishments.
As Prime Minister Mark Carney rolls out lists of major infrastructure projects to receive expedited government approval, there’s one more project that deserves immediate action: the construction of a residence for the elected leader of our government.
Those who neglect this project or doubt it deserves priority in these days of widespread national and personal economic pain miss several key points, most having to do with our national maturity and our self-respect, both of which are now being tested daily.
Is there any other state on Earth that has or would let the residence of its leader fall to vermin? On one of the best sites on our capital’s otherwise quite splendid main drag – a route lined with fine structures overlooking the rivers, the streets we bedeck with flags for special occasions and processions passing by – we’ve got a shuttered, rotting rat-hole where our leaders used to live. It’s like a ripe pimple smack in the middle of our country’s nose. Think........