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.

[edit] Public role

The Prime Minister of Canada is not the head of state; thus, his or her spouse does not play as active a role in Canadian affairs as the royal consorts and vice-regal consorts. The Prime Minister's wife, however, frequently accompanies the Prime Minister on campaign and other public appearances, and often hosts dignitaries at 24 Sussex Drive. 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.

Some Prime Ministers' spouses have attracted a great deal of attention for other reasons, 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, and was satirized in Frank as Imelda because of her purportedly large collection of shoes.

Some commentators have tried to style prime ministers' wives as "First Lady of Canada," similar to the style of First Lady used in republics, but this title is incorrect. Use of the term is based on the pervasive influence of American media, and not a defined public role or title for the Prime Minister's spouse.

[edit] Other notes

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 died in 1884, was also not married during his term in office. Pierre Trudeau, the first Canadian Prime Minister to get married during his term in office, also began his term as a bachelor — and ended it separated from Margaret Trudeau.

Three Canadian Prime Ministers, John A. Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie and John Diefenbaker, were also widowers, who were each married to their second wives during their terms as Prime Minister. Macdonald's first wife was Isabella Clark, Mackenzie's was Helen Neil, and Diefenbaker's was Edna Brower.

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 early 1993. She briefly dated Gregory Lekhtman, the inventor of Exerlopers, during her term as Prime Minister, but kept the relationship relatively private and did not involve him in the election campaign.

[edit] Spouses of the Prime Ministers

Rank Name Dates Spouse of
1. Agnes Macdonald July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873 Sir John A. Macdonald
2. Jane Mackenzie November 7, 1873 – October 8, 1878 Alexander Mackenzie
Agnes Macdonald October 17, 1878 – June 6, 1891 Sir John A. Macdonald
3. Mary Abbott June 16, 1891 – November 24, 1892 Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott
4. Annie Thompson December 5, 1892 – December 12, 1894 Sir John Sparrow David Thompson
none (widower) December 21, 1894 – April 27, 1896 Sir Mackenzie Bowell
5. Frances Tupper May 1, 1896 – July 8, 1896 Sir Charles Tupper
6. Zoé Laurier July 11, 1896 – October 7, 1911 Sir Wilfrid Laurier
7. Laura Borden October 10, 1911 – July 10, 1920 Sir Robert Laird Borden
8. Isabel Meighen July 10, 1920 – December 29, 1921 Arthur Meighen
none (never married) December 29, 1921 – June 29, 1926 William Lyon Mackenzie King
Isabel Meighen June 29, 1926 – November 25, 1926 Arthur Meighen
none (never married) November 25, 1926 – August 7, 1930 William Lyon Mackenzie King
none (never married) August 7, 1930 – October 23, 1935 R.B. Bennett
none (never married) October 23, 1935 – November 15, 1948 William Lyon Mackenzie King
9. Jeanne St. Laurent November 15, 1948 – June 21, 1957 Louis Stephen St. Laurent
10. Olive Diefenbaker June 21, 1957 – April 22, 1963 John George Diefenbaker
11. Maryon Pearson April 22, 1963 – April 20, 1968 Lester B. Pearson
none (unmarried as of 1968; married in office) April 20, 1968 – March 4, 1971 Pierre Trudeau
12. Margaret Trudeau March 4, 1971 – 1977* Pierre Trudeau
none (separated) de facto Margaret Trudeau 1977 – June 4, 1979* Pierre Trudeau
13. Maureen McTeer June 4, 1979 – March 2, 1980 Joe Clark
none (separated) de facto Margaret Trudeau March 2, 1980 – April 2, 1984* Pierre Trudeau
none (divorced) April 2, 1984 – June 30, 1984* Pierre Trudeau
14. Geills Turner June 30, 1984 – September 17, 1984 John Turner
15. Mila Mulroney September 17, 1984 – June 25, 1993 Brian Mulroney
none (divorced twice, remarried after term ended) June 25, 1993 – November 4, 1993 Kim Campbell
16. Aline Chrétien November 4, 1993 – December 12, 2003 Jean Chrétien
17. Sheila Martin December 12, 2003 – February 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 April 2, 1984. Trudeau left office in June of 1984, two months after his divorce was finalized.

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