Perhaps the leader of the opposition should show respect for other politicians and Parliament and stick to making critical positive and negative observations rather than attack everyone...even members of his own party. He simply does not deserve respect if he can't give it. Plus he stayed at Stornoway when he had no claim. If he attacks nonsense then he should get what he gives. It s not about Stornoway.. it's about him.
David, respectfully, I disagree. Times change. What seemed like a good idea back then doesn’t necessarily hold water today. I don’t think you have made a case for why we should continue to provide housing for the official leader of the opposition. It does make sense for our country to provide housing for our Prime Minister. What has happened to 24 Sussex Drive is a travesty! I’m glad that something is finally being done. It also makes sense for the residence of the Governor General. But the leader of the official opposition party? It has never made sense to me and still doesn’t. I support the petition and the need to end this wasteful spending.
A good article and I support the significance of the three heritage sites maintained by the NCC. Regardless of the public figures that may occupy them.
Rob Ford was a master at attacking government spending like free coffee while wasting millions. The public relates to a cup of coffee or in this case a home, but only a few can get their head around a billion.
Heritage of course, helps define who we are , on whose shoulders we are standing on.
From south of the Canadian border, here's why I'd say no to an official residence for the leader of the official opposition.
Before the 2025 election, you had three parties who had major status.
How do you treat the leader of a party that's either in a "service and supply" agreement, let alone a full coalition, or in a uniparty minority government, the smaller of the two non-governmental parties and therefore not official opposition.
So, to me, it's not an efficiency issue, it's one of political science.
I wish the current occupant of Stornoway was actually doing the important job you reference. He speaks often, in Parliament and beyond. But he is not doing the work of actually improving government legislation because he rarely talks about policy. Instead, he makes pronouncements, mocking and attacking others, and telling us what he intends to do when he is PM. He does not live in Stornoway and enjoy other privileges in order to tell us what he will do in 3 years. He lives in Stornoway to serve Canadians right now by ensuring that current legislation is as strong, justified, inclusive and effective as possible. He certainly is not in Stornoway to lie to Canadians repeatedly, although he persists in doing so. That is outrageous!
perhaps the leader of the opposition should be LOYAL, but he is a different breed....I really don't know about this.....just like when you said public figures deserve to be paid higher wages so as to discourage corruption/bribes, I didn't really agree , but felt that ,ok you have a point . But because it hasn't stopped Doug Ford or Trump from lining their pockets, and it seems that it will never be enough for them ,it ticks me off. I find Poilievre to be the same . He didn't leave when he lost , and found a way to wiggle back into his glass house, where he continues to throw rocks from. Yes I'm judging him and the others that might follow, because their track record leaves a lot to be desired
I totally agree with you. We need more of this public spirit for the reasons you mention. I am tired of Canadians refusing to separate the holder of the position from a wider policy perspective.
Despite Poilievre’s determination to make this his permanent residence, since he seems to have given up on the idea of becoming PM, the price of serving in public office in 2026 is a level of harassment that was unimaginable back in the era before the birth of the Blue Jays. Since protesters now show up at private homes - which used to be unthinkable - the argument against this strikes me as the the pettiest of politics. It’d be like Poilievre arguing against spending money on Stornaway. Oh, right...
The unrealistic expectation that every government expenditure should somehow realize an empirical $ roi is so foolish but that's what the "run government as a business" folks seem to expect.
Peace, Order and Good Governance has a $ cost and a non monetary return. These residences are part of that return.
The Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition is not just some party leader. They occupy an important constitutional office, being, in principle, a government in waiting. Opposition is structurally essential to our system. It's to Canada's credit that we dignify this office, not just with the fancy label, but with an official residence.
Long before I had heard of sortition (i.e. in the 80s), I wondered why an Opposition? Loyal Opposition seemed like quite a fine line to walk - why were they supposed to oppose if the government came up with a really good idea? Just because it was their job? Deliberative democracy seemed to me the way parliament ought to be run - leave the Question Period histrionic theatre out of it. Government is serious business (to paraphrase Michael Douglas/Andrew Shepherd in The American President) - the people expect parliament to get real work done, not flaunt their rhetoric in front of cameras.
So, if we really had a deliberative democracy based, sortition composed parliament, there would be no Opposition or Opposition Leader. One might imagine a parliament appointed CEO as the head of the civil service (distinct from the Privy Council Clerk?) who might live at 24 Sussex, and one might also imagine a chair of a parliamentary executive oversight committee, who might live at Stornoway.
Perhaps the leader of the opposition should show respect for other politicians and Parliament and stick to making critical positive and negative observations rather than attack everyone...even members of his own party. He simply does not deserve respect if he can't give it. Plus he stayed at Stornoway when he had no claim. If he attacks nonsense then he should get what he gives. It s not about Stornoway.. it's about him.
"We should reject playing political games with government properties, tempting as that is." Yes.
David, respectfully, I disagree. Times change. What seemed like a good idea back then doesn’t necessarily hold water today. I don’t think you have made a case for why we should continue to provide housing for the official leader of the opposition. It does make sense for our country to provide housing for our Prime Minister. What has happened to 24 Sussex Drive is a travesty! I’m glad that something is finally being done. It also makes sense for the residence of the Governor General. But the leader of the official opposition party? It has never made sense to me and still doesn’t. I support the petition and the need to end this wasteful spending.
A good article and I support the significance of the three heritage sites maintained by the NCC. Regardless of the public figures that may occupy them.
Amen brother.
A politics of punishment is poisonous. It leads us nowhere good.
Laws made to punish your enemies will eventually be used against you.
Rob Ford was a master at attacking government spending like free coffee while wasting millions. The public relates to a cup of coffee or in this case a home, but only a few can get their head around a billion.
Heritage of course, helps define who we are , on whose shoulders we are standing on.
From south of the Canadian border, here's why I'd say no to an official residence for the leader of the official opposition.
Before the 2025 election, you had three parties who had major status.
How do you treat the leader of a party that's either in a "service and supply" agreement, let alone a full coalition, or in a uniparty minority government, the smaller of the two non-governmental parties and therefore not official opposition.
So, to me, it's not an efficiency issue, it's one of political science.
I wish the current occupant of Stornoway was actually doing the important job you reference. He speaks often, in Parliament and beyond. But he is not doing the work of actually improving government legislation because he rarely talks about policy. Instead, he makes pronouncements, mocking and attacking others, and telling us what he intends to do when he is PM. He does not live in Stornoway and enjoy other privileges in order to tell us what he will do in 3 years. He lives in Stornoway to serve Canadians right now by ensuring that current legislation is as strong, justified, inclusive and effective as possible. He certainly is not in Stornoway to lie to Canadians repeatedly, although he persists in doing so. That is outrageous!
perhaps the leader of the opposition should be LOYAL, but he is a different breed....I really don't know about this.....just like when you said public figures deserve to be paid higher wages so as to discourage corruption/bribes, I didn't really agree , but felt that ,ok you have a point . But because it hasn't stopped Doug Ford or Trump from lining their pockets, and it seems that it will never be enough for them ,it ticks me off. I find Poilievre to be the same . He didn't leave when he lost , and found a way to wiggle back into his glass house, where he continues to throw rocks from. Yes I'm judging him and the others that might follow, because their track record leaves a lot to be desired
I totally agree with you. We need more of this public spirit for the reasons you mention. I am tired of Canadians refusing to separate the holder of the position from a wider policy perspective.
Despite Poilievre’s determination to make this his permanent residence, since he seems to have given up on the idea of becoming PM, the price of serving in public office in 2026 is a level of harassment that was unimaginable back in the era before the birth of the Blue Jays. Since protesters now show up at private homes - which used to be unthinkable - the argument against this strikes me as the the pettiest of politics. It’d be like Poilievre arguing against spending money on Stornaway. Oh, right...
The unrealistic expectation that every government expenditure should somehow realize an empirical $ roi is so foolish but that's what the "run government as a business" folks seem to expect.
Peace, Order and Good Governance has a $ cost and a non monetary return. These residences are part of that return.
I expected to be madder 😬😂
Repurposing in the public interest seems legit.
Good piece, thanks.
The Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition is not just some party leader. They occupy an important constitutional office, being, in principle, a government in waiting. Opposition is structurally essential to our system. It's to Canada's credit that we dignify this office, not just with the fancy label, but with an official residence.
Long before I had heard of sortition (i.e. in the 80s), I wondered why an Opposition? Loyal Opposition seemed like quite a fine line to walk - why were they supposed to oppose if the government came up with a really good idea? Just because it was their job? Deliberative democracy seemed to me the way parliament ought to be run - leave the Question Period histrionic theatre out of it. Government is serious business (to paraphrase Michael Douglas/Andrew Shepherd in The American President) - the people expect parliament to get real work done, not flaunt their rhetoric in front of cameras.
So, if we really had a deliberative democracy based, sortition composed parliament, there would be no Opposition or Opposition Leader. One might imagine a parliament appointed CEO as the head of the civil service (distinct from the Privy Council Clerk?) who might live at 24 Sussex, and one might also imagine a chair of a parliamentary executive oversight committee, who might live at Stornoway.
Until then, I still dream ...