24 Sussex still in need of significant repairs: Should the Harper’s move out?

Remember that story from a couple of years ago about 24 Sussex — the prime minister's official residence — being in need of significant repairs?

Well, according to Glen McGregor of the Ottawa Citizen, things have gotten worse and will continue to worsen until the Harper's move out so improvements can be made.

24 Sussex sits on 3.98 acres of land and includes the 34 room residence and four other buildings. Only 20 per cent of the main building is the actual private residence.

According to billing records obtained by McGregor, costs for heat and hydro have increased significantly because of the house's condition.

In 2012, he notes, the National Capital Commission, spent more than $69,000 on utility bills which is "up about 20 per cent from the Harpers’ first year in the home" in 2006.

In an email to Yahoo! Canada News, Julie Vaux, the prime minster's press secretary reiterated the PMO's old message.

"The current facilities at 24 Sussex are adequate for existing needs," she wrote.

"We are always open to proposals that would lower costs."

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Reaction to this story — both now and two years ago when it was initially brought forward — has been primarily been against Harper. It appears that Canadians want him to move out and let the renovations happen.

The NDP's Pat Martin summed up the public sentiment the best when he said that you either pay now or pay more later.

"It's a false economy to think you're saving money by delaying maintenance," NDP MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, Man.), chair of the Government Operations and Estimates Committee, told The Hill Times in 2011.

"It's actually reckless and irresponsible stewardship of our national assets. This issue has become a metaphor for the prime minister's stubborn, intransigent nature, which surfaces regularly."

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This is a really case of damned if you do, damned if you don't for Harper.

Can you imagine what the headlines would read if Harper did move forward with the costly renovations:

"Harper spends $10 million on home renos while cutting (enter program name here)."

But here's a clever idea from Andrew Balfour on Twitter:

(Screen shot: canadascapital.gc.ca)

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