OTTAWA – Canada is promoting certainly one of its flats in New York Metropolis to cowl the price of a brand-new luxurious apartment it lately bought for $9 million.
The Canadian authorities owns two flats at a Park Avenue constructing in Manhattan, certainly one of which is used because the official residence for the consul basic in New York.
The second condominium is utilized by Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations.
World Affairs Canada mentioned the previous “is being readied for sale, and is expected to cover the purchase price of the new unit.”
It might not disclose what the listed worth can be.
The brand new apartment was purchased as a result of the previous unit wasn’t as much as code and doesn’t meet the division’s requirements, mentioned World Affairs spokesman John Babcock.
Renovating it will have required “significant investments” because it was final refurbished in 1982, he mentioned.
World Affairs Canada didn’t reply to repeated questions on what work wanted to be accomplished to their one Park Avenue condominium, and why it doesn’t meet their requirements.
Ottawa revealed it was behind the latest apartment buy after New York real-estate circles speculated King Charles himself purchased the unit after studying a deed that cites “His Majesty the King in right of Canada.”
The Opposition Conservatives have made hay over the worth tag, with Chief Pierre Poilievre vowing to fireplace consul basic Tom Clark if he turns into prime minister.
Clark, a former journalist, was appointed to the position in February 2023 by International Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
“Trudeau spent $9 million on a luxury ‘Billionaires’ Row’ condo for his Liberal media hack, Tom Clark, whom he made consul general — whom I will fire,” Poilievre mentioned in a social media publish, Wednesday.
“Life has never been better for Trudeau’s friends, and it’s never been worse for working Canadians.”
The Conservatives are unconvinced that there was a necessity for the posh apartment, stating that many Canadians are priced out of shopping for a house.
“Under Justin Trudeau’s government, everyday Canadians are constantly punished by his disastrous policies while Liberal insiders are doing better than they ever have,” Opposition Home chief Andrew Scheer mentioned in a press release on Thursday.
The earlier Conservative authorities beneath prime minister Stephen Harper had an inventory of about 40 official residences overseas that it needed to promote as a part of a three-year plan to chop tens of millions in spending inside International Affairs.
In 2012, visa companies in Canadian embassies in Germany, Japan, Iran, Malaysia and Bangladesh have been shuttered. 4 consulates in america in Anchorage, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Raleigh-Durham additionally closed.
About $80 million was to be saved by closing some official residences, the Conservative authorities mentioned on the time.
Some properties that have been finally offered included the previous Canadian ambassador’s residence in Dublin, a diplomatic mansion in London and a heritage residence in Sweden.
World Affairs Canada offers residences to heads of missions resembling ambassadors, excessive commissioners and consuls basic primarily based on a “real property policy,” mentioned spokesman Babcock.
That features taking into account the significance of the mission, he mentioned, and following a normal for residences.
A list for Canada’s new unit exhibits it has three bedrooms and four-and-a-half loos, in addition to a moist bar, a powder room completed in jewel onyx and — as Canadian officers ramp up their entreaties forward of the upcoming U.S. election — loads of area for entertaining.
The official residence can be used for diplomatic actions which embody networking receptions, official briefings and hospitality occasions resembling discussions with enterprise and political leaders.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 18, 2024.