Spouse of the prime minister of Canada facts for kids

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, who was married to Justin Trudeau

The spouse of the prime minister of Canada is the wife or husband of Canada's prime minister. Currently, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is married to the 23rd prime minister, Justin Trudeau. They separated on August 2, 2023.

So far, nineteen women have been married to Canadian prime ministers. Kim Campbell, Canada's only female prime minister, was not married when she was in office. These spouses often appear at public events with the prime minister. They also often support charities or good causes on their own. Some spouses enjoy being in the public eye more than others.

Some news groups have called the prime minister's wife the "first lady of Canada." This is like the "first lady" title used in the United States. However, this is not an official title in Canada. In Canada, the spouses of Canada's King or Queen and the governor general are more important in official order. The idea of "first lady" in Canada often comes from American media and a misunderstanding of how Canadian government works.

What Does a Prime Minister's Spouse Do?

The prime minister is not Canada's head of state. This means their spouse does not have an official role in Canadian government. They do not play as big a part as the spouses of the King or Queen, or the governor general.

However, the prime minister's spouse is still a public figure. They often join the prime minister at public events and during election campaigns. They also often welcome important guests at 24 Sussex Drive, which is the prime minister's home.

Helping Good Causes

Many prime ministers' spouses have used their public role to help charities. For example, Mila Mulroney spoke for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She also supported other children's charities. Aline Chrétien worked hard to promote reading programs. Laureen Harper was known for helping animal welfare groups like the Ottawa Humane Society.

Laureen Harper, spouse of the prime minister of Canada (second from left), at the 2008 G8 Summit in Hokkaidō, Japan

Being an Advisor

Many spouses have also given unofficial advice to their husbands. This advice could be about politics or campaigns. Laureen Harper was seen as a "secret weapon" for her husband, Stephen Harper. She had a great sense for how public events would look. For example, she helped arrange for her husband to sing a the Beatles song. This helped make him seem less serious.

Aline Chrétien was also a strong advisor to her husband. One magazine said she shared the "seat of power" with him. A writer even called her the second most powerful person in Canada.

Other Public Attention

Some spouses have become well-known for other reasons. Maryon Pearson was famous for her quick and funny remarks. Margaret Trudeau became a celebrity in her own right. She was seen at famous parties and appeared on magazine covers. Maureen McTeer, married to Joe Clark, was the first spouse to keep her own last name after marriage. This was a big deal at the time.

Because the role of a prime minister's spouse is not official, they can sometimes face criticism. In 2016, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau mentioned needing help with her many requests for public appearances. Some people criticized this, but it also showed how busy the role can be.

Spouses of Canadian Prime Ministers

Here is a list of the people who have been married to a prime minister of Canada:

No.	Image	Name	Prime Minister (Spouse)	Date tenure began	Date tenure ended
1		Agnes Macdonald	Sir John A. Macdonald	July 1, 1867	November 5, 1873
2		Jane Mackenzie	Alexander Mackenzie	November 7, 1873	October 8, 1878
(1)		Agnes Macdonald	Sir John A. Macdonald	October 17, 1878	June 6, 1891
3		Mary Abbott	Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott	June 16, 1891	November 24, 1892
4		Annie Thompson	Sir John Sparrow David Thompson	December 5, 1892	December 12, 1894
		None (widower)	Sir Mackenzie Bowell	December 21, 1894	April 27, 1896
5		Frances Tupper	Sir Charles Tupper	May 1, 1896	July 8, 1896
6		Zoé Laurier	Sir Wilfrid Laurier	July 11, 1896	October 7, 1911
7		Laura Borden	Sir Robert Laird Borden	October 10, 1911	July 10, 1920
8		Isabel Meighen	Arthur Meighen	July 10, 1920	December 29, 1921
		None (never married)	William Lyon Mackenzie King	December 29, 1921	June 29, 1926
(8)		Isabel Meighen	Arthur Meighen	June 29, 1926	November 25, 1926
		None (never married)	William Lyon Mackenzie King	November 25, 1926	August 7, 1930
		None (never married)	R.B. Bennett	August 7, 1930	October 23, 1935
		None (never married)	William Lyon Mackenzie King	October 23, 1935	November 15, 1948
9		Jeanne St. Laurent	Louis Stephen St. Laurent	November 15, 1948	June 21, 1957
10		Olive Diefenbaker	John Diefenbaker	June 21, 1957	April 22, 1963
11		Maryon Pearson	Lester B. Pearson	April 22, 1963	April 20, 1968
		None (unmarried as of 1968; married in office)	Pierre Trudeau	April 20, 1968	March 4, 1971
12		Margaret Trudeau		March 4, 1971	June 4, 1979
13		Maureen McTeer	Joe Clark	June 4, 1979	March 3, 1980
(12)		Margaret Trudeau	Pierre Trudeau	March 3, 1980	April 2, 1984
		None (divorced)		April 2, 1984	June 30, 1984
14		Geills Turner	John Turner	June 30, 1984	September 17, 1984
15		Mila Mulroney	Brian Mulroney	September 17, 1984	June 25, 1993
		None (divorced)	Kim Campbell	June 25, 1993	November 4, 1993
16		Aline Chrétien	Jean Chrétien	November 4, 1993	December 12, 2003
17		Sheila Martin	Paul Martin	December 12, 2003	February 6, 2006
18		Laureen Harper	Stephen Harper	February 6, 2006	November 4, 2015
19		Sophie Grégoire Trudeau	Justin Trudeau	November 4, 2015	Present

See also

• List of royal consorts of Canada
• Viceregal consort of Canada