Today’s letters: There are options to fix 24 Sussex Drive. Pick one

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Why not make this place pay for itself? How about a historical vacation site? Convert the bedrooms to hotel rooms and charge for tourists and others to stay and visit our great city from one of our most exceptional and conveniently located historical sites.

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A fancy dining room with evening entertainment. Dress up some of the rooms like a museum of sorts for visitors to get an idea of the history of Canada and our past and present political leaders.

Ken Robson, Orléans

Chrétien, Harper have a good idea

A few years ago, we took visitors from the United States on a tour of the “temporary” House of Commons. Afterwards, our friends said, “The fact that you have built such a beautiful temporary chamber shows the respect you have for your Parliament.” Now it is time for us to show that respect for the prime minister and give him/her a home to live in and work from that makes us all proud.

Yes, there will be push-back: lots of complaining about spending money on a “fancy house” when many are struggling to find decent housing, but the proposal by former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper to lead a fund-raising initiative not only shows that we can work together across parties (which is pretty rare these days), but also that the required work can be done by donation and not through tax dollars.

We will donate!

Glen and Vicki Robinson, Ottawa

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Once again, the NCC stalls on repairs

Carleton Prof. Peter Coffman states “it’s one of the most historic and important heritage buildings, not just in Ottawa, but in the whole country.” I think almost every taxpayer in Canada feels the same. Coffman also says, “I can’t think of another country in the world that would have allowed this to happen to their official residence.”

But it’s not Canadians who have allowed this to happen. It’s once again the NCC bungling and stalling (see: LeBreton Flats). The NCC has thrown a wrench into the gears by placing a totally unrealistic dollar figure on the repairs for 24 Sussex Drive.

It’s a great idea for two former prime ministers to try to get this moving but I don’t think it should be totally charitable money. I think the taxpayers should be at least matching the money; after all, this is our official residence.

D.J. Phillips, Gloucester

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