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Stephen Harper and his family will be moving out of 24 Sussex Dr., the Prime Minister's official residence, when a temporary new home can be found. Mr. Harper revealed this in his year-end interview with CTV's Lloyd Robertson and Robert Fife. The historic Ottawa mansion is falling apart and needs extensive work. For example, pieces of plastic cover some of the windows in an effort to keep in the heat. Work, including restoration to the house's electrical and plumbing systems, could take more than a year at an estimated cost of $9.7-million.

Previous prime ministers have been reluctant to move because of fear of criticism from the public, but National Capital Commission CEO Marie Lemay said this is not a cosmetic job. The NCC, which maintains the official residences, has been concerned about the state of the home for some time. It has not undergone any major work in 50 years.

Ms. Lemay said her office has been in discussions with the PMO about a moving date and the temporary accommodations. “We do have some interesting alternatives,” she said but refused to elaborate on where they may be. In addition to the PM, the RCMP has to approve the new home for security reasons.

DAVID WILKINS: THE EXIT INTERVIEW

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins's advice to his successor is to get out of Ottawa and meet Canadians. Since the South Carolina native with the big accent arrived here in June, 2005, greeting Canadians in both official languages – “bonjour y'all” – he has seen more of Canada than have most Canadians, travelling 525,000 kilometres. (He jokes that he knows his kilometres from his miles since he came to Canada.)

The ambassador leaves his post on Jan. 20, when Barack Obama is sworn in as president. Mr. Wilkins said he is pleased with the progress on two big irritants that confronted him when he moved here: softwood lumber and issues around the border.

An extremely affable guy, he's become good friends with a few of the premiers, including Saskatchewan's Brad Wall and New Brunswick's Shawn Graham. He will be practising law in South Carolina and has ruled out running for governor, as was rumoured.

A LIBERAL CHRISTMAS TREE

The Christmas tree that provided the festive backdrop for CTV's year-end interview with Mr. Harper, which is being broadcast today, was poached from Stornoway, the opposition leader's official residence. It seems that 7 Rideau Gate, Canada's official guesthouse, where the interview took place, was lacking in seasonal decorations. A quick-thinking NCC official remembered there was a fully decorated Christmas tree at Stornoway, which was standing there all alone after Stéphane Dion and his wife, Janine Krieber, moved out earlier this week. No one will be in the house over Christmas. Officials wrapped up the tree, loaded it in a truck and drove it the few blocks to the guesthouse. Mr. Dion stepped down as opposition leader last week. His successor, Michael Ignatieff, told him not to rush with the packing over the holidays but he left nonetheless.

HOT AND NOT

Not: The PM and his communications shop. Global National's anchor Kevin Newman was so tough on Stephen Harper during his interview around the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City that he was told by Harper communications staff he would never get another interview with the PM, according to a well-placed source. True to their word, Mr. Newman was shut out, denied a year-end interview with the Prime Minister that is traditional for television anchors. (The PMO did offer Global a year-end interview but it could not be with Mr. Newman, according to the source; Global said no.) Indeed, Mr. Newman has conducted two year-end interviews with Mr. Harper, last year and in 2006. The PMO's Dimitri Soudas says the story is not “accurate.”

Hot: Margaret Atwood. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe met up with CityNews reporter Richard Madan this week, who asked what gift he had in mind for the PM for Christmas. “A weekend with Margaret Atwood,” was the separatist leader's cheeky remark. Ms. Atwood said during the fall election campaign she would support the Bloc if she lived in Quebec, because of the Harper cuts to arts and culture.

Jane Taber is co-host of CTV's Question Period, which is broadcast Sunday.