Jack Layton’s new home

Not many Canadians know about Stornoway — the official residence of her majesty's loyal opposition. Apparently, neither does Jack Layton.

Layton, who has earned the right to move into the Ottawa-area mansion, told the Toronto Sun he will postpone the move to his new residence until the summer.

"I still don't know exactly where it is," he said. "We have a lot of work to do between now and the end of June and I think moves are probably disruptive."

Situated at 541 Acacia Avenue in the pretigious Village of Rockcliffe Park, just 5.5 kilometres from Parliament Hill, Stornoway is described as a "simple and commodious 2 storey-stucco sheathed house located in spacious grounds."

The home was built in 1914 for a prosperous Ottawa merchant, Ascanio J. Major. It was given the name Stornoway by its second residents, who chose to honour the geographic region in Scotland from whence their ancestors came.

During World War II, Stornoway was the residence of the Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her family.

The Government of Canada purchased Stornoway in 1970 and since then it's been the official abode of the leader of the opposition. The only exception was in 1993, when Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard refused to live there.

Stornoway went through extensive renovations between 2002 and 2006 where the kitchen was overhauled, the chimney was repaired, carpets replaced, and hardwood floors refinished. In 2008, former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion ordered an environmental audit, but his eco-retrofits were limited to new energy-efficient light bulbs because of the home's heritage status.

Stornoway's assessed value, as of 2008, was $4,225,000.

Stornoway is one of several homes allocated to elected officials. The Prime Minister resides at 24 Sussex Drive. The Govenor General resides at Rideau Hall, and the Speaker of House resides at the "Farm" in Gatineau.