A nationwide private fundraising campaign is being launched to rebuild the official residence of the Canadian Prime Minister, which has been left abandoned for over a decade due to issues including rat infestations, asbestos, and mold contamination.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the plan during a press conference held on June 26 (local time) in front of the official residence, 24 Sussex Drive, located in the capital city of Ottawa.

Prime Minister Carney stated that the funds for the residence's reconstruction would be raised through a private fundraising campaign led by the Rideau Hall Foundation, a charitable organization.

This decision is interpreted as a move to minimize the burden on taxpayers and avoid the political criticism associated with injecting large amounts of public funds.

In conjunction with this, the Canadian government has launched a design and construction competition for domestic companies to modernize the residence.

The results of the competition are scheduled to be announced on July 1, 2027, which is Canada Day.

The cost of the project has not been disclosed.

Prime Minister Carney described 24 Sussex as being in a "serious state," adding, "I don't want to disclose the budget in advance because the cost is part of the competition."

However, citing a 2021 report, Bloomberg estimated that it would cost 36.6 million Canadian dollars (approximately 39.6 billion KRW) to restore the residence to a "good condition."

At current rates, this is equivalent to 44 million Canadian dollars (approximately 47.6 billion KRW).

According to local media, 24 Sussex Drive, built in 1867, is a symbolic national space that has housed 10 Canadian prime ministers over the past 75 years.

The main building contains 34 rooms, and the property also includes a small annex, a building next to the swimming pool, and security facilities for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

However, due to decades of deferred maintenance and neglect, the property is now uninhabitable.

No prime minister has officially resided there since former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2015, and public access was prohibited in 2022.

The aging building has been exposed to mold, asbestos, and lead contamination, and serious hygiene issues have been raised, including the discovery of carcasses and droppings inside the walls due to rat infestations.

Concerns regarding safety, such as fire risks, have also emerged due to outdated wiring and malfunctioning heating and cooling systems.

Prime Minister Carney does not live there either; he resides at Rideau Cottage, a temporary residence located on the grounds of the Governor General's residence across the street.

In the past, prime ministers have been hesitant to take active steps due to concerns about political backlash if tens of millions of dollars in renovation costs were to be covered by public funds.

Prime Minister Carney stated, "I have no intention of living here."

He added, "But future prime ministers will need to lead the country and raise their children here," and noted, "We will restore it so they can raise their children safely and comfortably."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)