Government-Created Campaign Aims to Raise $50M to Restore 24 Sussex Drive

Rideau Hall Foundation board chair Rob Prichard (left) leaves an announcement with Prime Minister Mark Carney outside the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada at 24 Sussex Dr., in Ottawa, on June 26, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

The foundation in charge of fundraising efforts for the restoration of 24 Sussex Dr. has set a goal of $50 million to renovate the nation’s most iconic heritage home.

Prime Minister Mark Carney detailed a plan last week for a public fundraiser and design competition to restore the former official residence of the prime minister. Carney did not disclose how much the renovation would cost, but indicated the goal was to raise as much money as possible to assist in paying the repair bill.

Teresa Marques, the president and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation, which is spearheading the national fundraising initiative, provided more details about its target during a June 29 radio interview.

She told CBC’s Ottawa Morning the organization has established a fundraising target of $50 million following discussions with the government about the project’s scale and described the goal as “a bit of a moonshot.”

“Our hope is that we are able to cover all or most of the costs of this project,” she said, adding that any leftover funds would “be repurposed into the project itself going forward.”

Carney told reporters during a June 26 press conference that he has seen a range of estimates concerning the options for the prime minister’s official residence, but declined to give any financial details.

“I don’t want to be too forward on what the budget is for this because in many respects that’s part of the competition,” he said.

Carney said the winning design proposal will be announced by Canada Day of next year.

Donations Rolling In

The Rideau Hall Foundation has already collected more than $100,000 in crowdfunding contributions from Canadians.

Marques said in an emailed media statement that the charity was “humbled and moved” by the more than 200 online donations it received over the weekend, averaging $257 each for a total of just over $54,000. An additional $50,000 came in on June 29 bringing the fundraising total above the $100,000 mark so far.

Marques said the cap for individual donations is $5 million, coming in at 10 percent of the $50 million goal.

“We look forward to sharing more information, including names of donors, on a financial milestone basis,” Marques said.

The funding drive on the organization’s website allows Canadians to make a secure donation. Donors have the option to make either a one-time contribution or a monthly donation. The website provides pre-defined donation amounts between $50 and $1,000, but donors are also free to specify their desired contribution amount.

The Rideau Hall Foundation is open to receiving donations in line with its established policies, which prohibit corporate and anonymous donations and mandate that donors confirm their residency status. Further details about the campaign’s screening and eligibility procedures “will be made publicly available,” Marques said.

Carney described 24 Sussex as a “symbol of the nation” during the June 26 press conference, and told reporters the once stately home has fallen into a “critical state” after decades of neglect.

The residence built in 1868 that has housed 10 prime ministers has undergone some interior remediation work to address a long list of issues but much more remains to be done. It has not been inhabited since 2015 due to mould contamination, rodent infestation, crumbling plumbing, faulty electrical wiring, and a leaky roof.

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family relocated to Rideau Cottage, situated across the street on the grounds of Rideau Hall, when he assumed the role of prime minister in 2015.

Trudeau made a recommendation before leaving office last year of either renovating the Sussex Drive home, relocating to a nearby property, or upgrading Rideau Cottage as the new official residence. The estimated expenses for each option were projected to surpass $100 million.

Carney and his family currently reside at Rideau Cottage as well and he has said he has no plans to move into 24 Sussex Dr. but wants the house to be ready for future leaders.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters on July 25 that he doesn’t consider the building to be a priority. He noted that after meeting many Canadians who are grappling with homelessness or the inability to purchase a home that “the last thing on our mind should be 24 Sussex Dr.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.