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.

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."

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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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