Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada

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The spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada is the wife or husband of the Prime Minister of Canada. As a public figure, the spouse will from time to time participate in various ceremonial, diplomatic, or partisan activities, alongside and on behalf of the Prime Minister and his or her government.

While the First Lady of the United States has a number of responsibilities and usually her own staff, the same is not true of the spouse of the Prime Minister. This is partially a reflection of the much smaller role of the personal lives of politicians in Canadian media and the fact that the Canadian PM is not the head of state (see also Canadian Monarchy; Governor General of Canada, Viceregal consorts of Canada). Although some commentators have tried to style prime ministers' wives as First Lady of Canada, this title is not officially recognized. Use of the term is likely based more on the pervasive influence of American media than on any historical notions of a defined public role or title for the Prime Minister's spouse.

Some Prime Ministers' spouses have attracted a great deal of attention, however. Maryon Pearson was noted for her prickly wit, having made a number of famous quips which are still regularly featured in anthologies of famous quotations. Margaret Trudeau, whom Pierre Trudeau married while in office, became a notable celebrity in her own right. Maureen McTeer, spouse of Joe Clark, attracted controversy when she became the first spouse of a Prime Minister to retain her own surname after marriage. Mila Mulroney also rose to some notoriety due to her spending habits.

At times, Prime Ministers' wives have used their public status to promote charitable causes — Mila Mulroney was a spokesperson for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and other children's charities and Aline Chrétien was an active campaigner for literacy programs.

Canada has also had two Prime Ministers who were bachelors — William Lyon Mackenzie King and R.B. Bennett. Mackenzie Bowell, a widower whose wife Harriet passed away in 1884, was also not married during his term in office.

Canada has also had one female Prime Minister, Kim Campbell. However, as she was not married during her term in office, there has never been a "husband of the Prime Minister" (although Campbell's first husband, Nathan Divinsky, did try to attract media attention in 1993 by billing himself as the ex-husband of the Prime Minister.) Campbell had finalized her divorce from her second husband Howard Eddy in 1993 shortly before taking office as Prime Minister.

[edit] Spouses of the Prime Ministers

Rank Name Dates Spouse of
1. Agnes Macdonald July 1, 1867November 5, 1873 Sir John A. Macdonald
2. Jane Mackenzie November 7, 1873October 8, 1878 Alexander Mackenzie
Agnes Macdonald October 17, 1878June 6, 1891 Sir John A. Macdonald
3. Mary Abbott June 16, 1891November 24, 1892 Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott
4. Annie Thompson December 5, 1892December 12, 1894 Sir John Sparrow David Thompson
none December 21, 1894April 27, 1896 Sir Mackenzie Bowell
5. Frances Tupper May 1, 1896July 8, 1896 Sir Charles Tupper
6. Zoe Laurier July 11, 1896October 7, 1911 Sir Wilfrid Laurier
7. Laura Borden October 10, 1911July 10, 1920 Sir Robert Laird Borden
8. Isabel Meighen July 10, 1920December 29, 1921 Arthur Meighen
none December 29, 1921June 29, 1926 William Lyon Mackenzie King
Isabel Meighen June 29, 1926November 25, 1926 Arthur Meighen
none November 25, 1926August 7, 1930 William Lyon Mackenzie King
none August 7, 1930October 23, 1935 R.B. Bennett
none October 23, 1935November 15, 1948 William Lyon Mackenzie King
9. Jeanne St. Laurent November 15, 1948June 21, 1957 Louis Stephen St. Laurent
10. Olive Diefenbaker June 21, 1957April 22, 1963 John George Diefenbaker
11. Maryon Pearson April 22, 1963April 20, 1968 Lester B. Pearson
none April 20, 1968March 4, 1971 Pierre Trudeau
12. Margaret Trudeau March 4, 19711977* Pierre Trudeau
13. Maureen McTeer June 4, 1979March 2, 1980 Joe Clark
none March 2, 1980June 30, 1984* Pierre Trudeau
14. Geills Turner June 30, 1984September 17, 1984 John Turner
15. Mila Mulroney September 17, 1984June 25, 1993 Brian Mulroney
none June 25, 1993November 4, 1993 Kim Campbell
16. Aline Chrétien November 4, 1993December 12, 2003 Jean Chrétien
17. Sheila Martin December 12, 2003February 6, 2006 Paul Martin
18. Laureen Harper February 6, 2006 – present Stephen Harper

(*)The Trudeaus separated in 1977 but did not obtain a divorce until 1984.