Turning Rideau Cottage into the permanent residence of the prime minister would have to include creating staff offices and other 鈥渞esidential infrastructure,鈥� an internal government document says.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been living in the house on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the Governor General鈥檚 residence, since he came into office.

Making that situation more permanent is one of three options the government is considering as the historic home for Canada鈥檚 prime ministers, 24 Sussex Drive, sits in disrepair after decades of neglect.

The saga over what to do next lands in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, as the Liberals struggle to soothe Canadians鈥� anxieties about affordability and are chided by the Opposition Conservatives for their spending.

鈥淎ny decision for the future of 24 Sussex Drive will not be taken lightly. We have an obligation to preserve landmarks of national importance,鈥� a spokesman for Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, said in a statement.

A decision has been pending for years.

The three options under consideration include 鈥渆stablishing Rideau Cottage as the permanent residence,鈥� according to a heavily redacted briefing note prepared for Privy Council Office staff last May.

The document, labelled 鈥渟ecret,鈥� was released to The Canadian Press under access-to-information law.

鈥淯nder this option, the (National Capital Commission) would invest to address lacking residential infrastructure 鈥� kitchen, laundry, garage and staff offices.鈥�

The state of 24 Sussex caused Trudeau and his family to choose Rideau Cottage when he was elected in 2015, rather than the official residence where he lived as a child when his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was prime minister.

The National Capital Commission declined to say whether any renovations have been to done to address the lacking infrastructure at Trudeau鈥檚 current home.

Another option the federal government is considering is rebuilding 24 Sussex altogether.

That would mean constructing a new 鈥渕odern facility with limited heritage elements,鈥� such as the building鈥檚 stone facade, according to the briefing note.

A 2021 report from the commission on the state of its assets said there was $36 million worth of deferred maintenance to complete at 24 Sussex, not including security or other infrastructure upgrades.

The new document says staff are also looking at Ottawa鈥檚 ritzy Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood as a location for a new residence. Specifically, they are looking at a parking lot on land owned by the National Capital Commission.

Duclos鈥� office said it鈥檚 discussing options with the commission and stakeholders.

鈥淣oting that there has not been any significant investment in over 60 years, this ambitious work is ongoing and will balance security needs with universal accessibility, historic preservation and aspects of environmental sustainability,鈥� it said.

Trudeau said in a 2018 interview that no prime minister wants to spend a dime of taxpayer money on that site.

Commission spokeswoman Val茅rie Dufour says the NCC is waiting for the government to make a decision on 24 Sussex. In the meantime, workers are gutting the building, which closed in late 2022 to address outstanding health and safety concerns.

鈥淲e have removed all the plaster and drywall in the residence, leaving only the framing, as it contained designated substances such as asbestos and lead paint,鈥� Dufour said Friday.

鈥淧rior to this abatement, heritage fabric, such as doors and mouldings, was carefully removed, catalogued and stored for possible future reinstatement.鈥�

The commission maintains that the work needs to happen regardless of what decision is made about the crumbling mansion.

Workers are not touching the property鈥檚 1975 pool and sauna house, which is 鈥渘o longer in operation,鈥� Dufour said.

The briefing document says it鈥檚 languishing in 鈥渃ritical condition and poses numerous risks to users,鈥� including 鈥渉igh risk of fire鈥� from an aged electrical system, and 鈥減est control issues.鈥�

It says the estimated cost of making the building safe again ranges into the millions.

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press