Harrington Lake, the official summer residence where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent Easter with his wife and children, has been undergoing $8.6 million in renovations.
Harrington Lake, the official summer residence where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent Easter with his wife and children, has been undergoing $8.6 million in renovations.
The National Capital Commission released the new figures after CBC requested an update on repairs at the property near Chelsea, Que., 30 minutes north of Ottawa. The committed funding of $8.6 million comes after a 2018 report found the prime minister’s getaway needed $17 million of work done.
Until now, the NCC has not publicy stated that renovations were underway at the residence or revealed a price tag for the work.
Harrington Lake has been a place of controversy of late for Trudeau. The prime minister was questioned about his decision to join his family there on Sunday and Monday, despite public health officials in Quebec exhorting residents of neighbouring Ontario not to visit their country residences across the provincial border during the COVID-19 emergency.
When asked about the decision this week, Trudeau told reporters, “after three weeks of my family living up at Harrington and me working here [at Rideau Cottage], I went to join them for Easter.”
“We continue to follow all the instructions from public health authorities,” he added.
Retreat holds special memories for Trudeau
The NCC wasn’t able to give CBC a breakdown of the $8.6 million that’s been earmarked for the federal heritage