Fixing up 24 Sussex

I wanted to link to this story, which was featured in the Post yesterday; unfortunately, it was subscriber-only. However, this letter to the editor in today's paper says just what I wanted to say in response: Namely, why can't a private foundation be formed to help pay for renovations and redecoration at 24 Sussex? That takes the partisan onus off any prime minister while having it fixed. And, er, it's what we do in the U.S. . . . (Parks Service takes care of day-to-day stuff). Well, this Canadian says it, to his own peeps.

Re: PM's Residence A Real Fixer-Upper, Jan. 25

National Post -- Published: Thursday, January 26, 2006

Like the country, the prime minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive is in a state of disrepair. Anywhere else in the free world, where things are not as constrained by the powers of an overreaching civil service, that would not be a problem. Concerned citizens would incorporate a charitable foundation, memberships would be sold, a general meeting would be held, a volunteer board would be elected, funds would be raised, contractors would be hired, and the place would be fixed. The problem is that this is Canada, and we don't do things like that: Only the government can solve our problems.
Thom Gillan, Hamilton, Ont.