Ottawa's Stornoway, the stately residence tucked into the leafy Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood, has been home to the leader of the federal Official Opposition for three-quarters of a century. Now a B.C. woman wants to see that tradition come to an end, at least when it comes to taxpayers footing the bill.
Carole Burman has launched a petition on the House of Commons e-petition system calling on the federal government to stop funding Stornoway, arguing the 75-year-old perk is an outdated use of public money. The petition, which needs to gather enough signatures and a sponsoring MP before it can be formally presented in the House of Commons, takes aim at the taxpayer-funded upkeep, staffing, and maintenance that come with running the historic property.
What Is Stornoway, Exactly?
For Ottawa residents who've driven past the gated property on Acacia Avenue without knowing its significance, Stornoway is one of the capital's four official residences, alongside 24 Sussex Drive, Rideau Cottage, and Harrington Lake. Unlike the others, which are tied to the Prime Minister, Stornoway has been reserved for the Leader of the Official Opposition since 1950, when the federal government purchased the roughly two-acre estate to give opposition leaders a residence befitting their role.
The stone mansion has hosted a long line of opposition leaders over the decades, each occupying the home during their tenure before handing the keys to their successor. It's maintained by the National Capital Commission, the same federal body responsible for many of Ottawa's other landmark properties and green spaces.
The Ottawa Angle
While the petition's author lives in B.C., the story is very much an Ottawa one. Stornoway sits in Rockcliffe Park, one of the capital's most exclusive enclaves, and its upkeep is managed locally by the NCC alongside its other Ottawa-area holdings like Rideau Hall and the Prime Minister's residence at Rideau Cottage. Any changes to how Stornoway is funded would directly affect the NCC's operations here in the capital and could reshape how the city's official residences are managed going forward.
Ottawa residents have long had a complicated relationship with the capital's official residences. Debates over the state of 24 Sussex Drive — which has sat vacant and in disrepair for years — regularly resurface as reminders of how expensive and politically fraught it can be to maintain these historic properties. A push to defund Stornoway would add another layer to that ongoing conversation about how the National Capital Region balances heritage preservation with fiscal accountability.
What Happens Next
Like all House of Commons e-petitions, Burman's petition needs to secure a minimum number of signatures within a set window and find an MP willing to sponsor it before the government is required to respond. Given that Stornoway funding falls under federal jurisdiction, any formal response would likely involve consultation with the NCC, which oversees the property's day-to-day operations in Ottawa.
Whether the petition gains enough traction to force a government response remains to be seen, but it's already sparked renewed conversation about the cost of maintaining Ottawa's official residences.
Source: Global News Ottawa
