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Spouse of the prime minister of Canada facts for kids

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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.

34th G8 summit member's spouses 20080708 2
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 Portrait of Agnes Macdonald Agnes Macdonald Sir John A. Macdonald July 1, 1867 November 5, 1873
2 Portrait of Jane Mackenzie Jane Mackenzie Alexander Mackenzie November 7, 1873 October 8, 1878
(1) Portrait of Agnes Macdonald Agnes Macdonald Sir John A. Macdonald October 17, 1878 June 6, 1891
3 Mary Abbott (cropped).jpg Mary Abbott Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott June 16, 1891 November 24, 1892
4 Portrait of Annie Thompson 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 Portrait of Frances Tupper Frances Tupper Sir Charles Tupper May 1, 1896 July 8, 1896
6 Portrait of Zoé Laurier Zoé Laurier Sir Wilfrid Laurier July 11, 1896 October 7, 1911
7 Photo of Sir Robert and Lady Borden Laura Borden Sir Robert Laird Borden October 10, 1911 July 10, 1920
8 Photo of Isabel Meighen Isabel Meighen Arthur Meighen July 10, 1920 December 29, 1921
None (never married) William Lyon Mackenzie King December 29, 1921 June 29, 1926
(8) Photo of Isabel Meighen 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 Photo of Louis and Jeanne St. Laurent Jeanne St. Laurent Louis Stephen St. Laurent November 15, 1948 June 21, 1957
10 Photo of Olive Diefenbaker 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 Photo of Margaret Trudeau Margaret Trudeau March 4, 1971 June 4, 1979
13 Maureen McTeer Joe Clark June 4, 1979 March 3, 1980
(12) Photo of Margaret Trudeau 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 Photo of Mila Mulroney Mila Mulroney Brian Mulroney September 17, 1984 June 25, 1993
None (divorced) Kim Campbell June 25, 1993 November 4, 1993
16 Photo of Aline Chrétien Aline Chrétien Jean Chrétien November 4, 1993 December 12, 2003
17 Sheila Bush.jpg Sheila Martin Paul Martin December 12, 2003 February 6, 2006
18 Photo of Laureen Harper Laureen Harper Stephen Harper February 6, 2006 November 4, 2015
19 Photo of Sophie Grégoire Trudeau Sophie Grégoire Trudeau Justin Trudeau November 4, 2015 Present

See also

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