Spouse of the prime minister of Canada facts for kids

The spouse of the prime minister of Canada is the wife or husband of the prime minister of Canada. Currently, Diana Fox Carney is married to the prime minister, Mark Carney.

Twenty women have been married to Canadian prime ministers. Kim Campbell was Canada's only female prime minister, and she was not married while in office. These spouses are often seen at important events, like official ceremonies or diplomatic meetings, alongside the prime minister. They also often work on their own charity projects. Some spouses have been more visible in public than others.

Some news groups have called the prime minister's wife the "first lady of Canada." This is similar to the title used in the United States. However, this is not an official title in Canada. The spouses of Canada's monarch and the governor general are more senior than the prime minister's spouse. The use of "first lady" often comes from the influence of American media and a misunderstanding of how Canadian government works.

Public Role of the Spouse

The prime minister is not Canada's head of state. This means their spouse does not have an official role in Canadian government affairs, unlike the spouses of the monarch or the governor general. However, the prime minister's spouse is still seen as a public figure. They often join the prime minister during election campaigns and other public events. They also frequently welcome important guests at the prime minister's home.

Diana Fox Carney, married to Mark Carney

Sometimes, prime ministers' spouses use their public position to support good causes. For example, Mila Mulroney spoke for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and other children's charities. Aline Chrétien actively supported programs that help people learn to read and write. Laureen Harper was known for helping animal welfare groups like the Ottawa Humane Society.

Many spouses have also been unofficial but important advisors to their husbands. Laureen Harper was seen as a "secret weapon" for her husband, Stephen Harper. Her good ideas for public appearances were very helpful. For instance, she was credited with the idea for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to sing "With a Little Help from My Friends" by the Beatles on stage. This helped make him seem more friendly and less formal. Even though she kept a low public profile, Aline Chrétien was also known as a strong advisor to her husband. One magazine even wrote that she "shares the seat of power" with him.

Some prime ministers' spouses have become well-known for other reasons. Maryon Pearson was famous for her sharp and funny comments. Many of her witty remarks are still remembered today. Margaret Trudeau, who married Pierre Trudeau while he was prime minister, became a celebrity herself. She was even featured on the covers of international magazines after being seen at famous parties. Maureen McTeer, the spouse of Joe Clark, caused a stir because she was the first prime minister's spouse to keep her own last name after getting married. Mila Mulroney also gained attention for her spending habits.

Because the role of a prime minister's spouse is not officially defined, they can sometimes face criticism for how visible they are in public. In 2016, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau faced some discussion. She mentioned in an interview that she needed help managing all the requests she received for public and charity events. Some people thought this showed a sense of personal importance or an attempt to become like a "First Lady."

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

Spouses of the Prime Ministers

No.	Image	Name	Date of birth	Date of marriage	Prime Minister (Spouse)	Date tenure began	Age at tenure start	Date tenure ended	Date of death
1		Agnes Macdonald (née Bernard)	August 24, 1836	February 16, 1867	Sir John A. Macdonald	July 1, 1867	30 years, 176 days	November 5, 1873	(1920-09-05)September 5, 1920
2		Jane Mackenzie (née Sym)	March 22, 1825	June 17, 1853	Alexander Mackenzie	November 7, 1873	48 years, 230 days	October 8, 1878	(1893-03-30)March 30, 1893
(1)		Agnes Macdonald (née Bernard)	August 24, 1836	February 16, 1867	Sir John A. Macdonald	October 17, 1878	42 years, 54 days	June 6, 1891	(1920-09-05)September 5, 1920
3		Mary Abbott (née Bethune)	October 17, 1823	July 26, 1849	Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott	June 16, 1891	67 years, 242 days	November 24, 1892	(1898-02-25)February 25, 1898
4		Annie Thompson (née Affleck)	June 26, 1845	July 5, 1870	Sir John Sparrow David Thompson	December 5, 1892	47 years, 162 days	December 12, 1894	(1913-04-10)April 10, 1913
		None (widower)			Sir Mackenzie Bowell	December 21, 1894	66 years, 224 days	April 27, 1896
5		Frances Tupper (née Morse)	March 14, 1826	October 6, 1846	Sir Charles Tupper	May 1, 1896	70 years, 48 days	July 8, 1896	(1912-05-11)May 11, 1912
6		Zoé Laurier (née Lafontaine)	June 26, 1841	August 13, 1868	Sir Wilfrid Laurier	July 11, 1896	55 years, 15 days	October 7, 1911	(1921-11-01)November 1, 1921
7		Laura Borden (née Bond)	November 26, 1861	September 25, 1889	Sir Robert Laird Borden	October 10, 1911	49 years, 318 days	July 10, 1920	(1940-09-07)September 7, 1940
8		Isabel Meighen (née Cox)	April 18, 1882	June 1, 1904	Arthur Meighen	July 10, 1920	38 years, 83 days	December 29, 1921	(1985-09-06)September 6, 1985
		None (never married)			William Lyon Mackenzie King	December 29, 1921		June 29, 1926
(8)		Isabel Meighen (née Cox)	April 18, 1882	June 1, 1904	Arthur Meighen	June 29, 1926	44 years, 72 days	November 25, 1926	(1985-09-06)September 6, 1985
		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 (née Renault)	October 22, 1886	May 19, 1908	Louis Stephen St. Laurent	November 15, 1948	62 years, 24 days	June 21, 1957	(1966-11-14)November 14, 1966
10		Olive Diefenbaker (née Freeman)	April 14, 1902	December 8, 1953	John Diefenbaker	June 21, 1957	55 years, 68 days	April 22, 1963	(1976-12-22)December 22, 1976
11		Maryon Pearson (née Moody)	December 13, 1901	August 22, 1925	Lester B. Pearson	April 22, 1963	61 years, 130 days	April 20, 1968	(1989-12-26)December 26, 1989
		None (unmarried as of 1968; married in office)			Pierre Trudeau	April 20, 1968		March 4, 1971
12		Margaret Trudeau (née Sinclair)	September 10, 1948	March 4, 1971		March 4, 1971	22 years, 175 days	June 4, 1979	Living
13		Maureen McTeer	September 27, 1952	June 30, 1973	Joe Clark	June 4, 1979	26 years, 250 days	March 3, 1980
(12)		Margaret Trudeau (née Sinclair)	September 10, 1948	March 4, 1971	Pierre Trudeau	March 3, 1980	31 years, 175 days	April 2, 1984
		None (divorced)				April 2, 1984		June 30, 1984
14		Geills Turner (née Kilgour)	December 23, 1937	May 11, 1963	John Turner	June 30, 1984	46 years, 190 days	September 17, 1984	Living
15		Mila Mulroney (née Pivnički)	July 13, 1953	May 26, 1973	Brian Mulroney	September 17, 1984	31 years, 66 days	June 25, 1993
		None (divorced)			Kim Campbell	June 25, 1993		November 4, 1993
16		Aline Chrétien (née Chaîné)	May 14, 1936	September 10, 1957	Jean Chrétien	November 4, 1993	57 years, 174 days	December 12, 2003	September 12, 2020
17		Sheila Martin (née Cowan)	July 31, 1943	September 11, 1965	Paul Martin	December 12, 2003	60 years, 134 days	February 6, 2006	Living
18		Laureen Harper (née Teskey)	June 23, 1963	December 11, 1993	Stephen Harper	February 6, 2006	42 years, 228 days	November 4, 2015
19		Sophie Grégoire Trudeau (née Grégoire)	April 24, 1975	May 28, 2005	Justin Trudeau	November 4, 2015	40 years, 194 days	March 14, 2025
20		Diana Fox Carney (née Fox)	September, 1965	July, 1994	Mark Carney	March 14, 2025	59 years, 194 days	Present

See also

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