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While the American First Lady has a number of responsibilities and usually her own staff, the same is not true of the wife 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).
Some Prime Ministers' wives have attracted a great deal of attention, however. Margaret Trudeau, whom Pierre Trudeau married while in office, became a notable celebrity in her own right, especially during and after the couple's divorce. Maureen McTeer, in turn, 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 extravagant 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 bachelor Prime Ministers - William Lyon Mackenzie King and R.B. Bennett.
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.)
| Rank | Name | Dates | Spouse of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Susan Agnes Bernard | July 1July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. Events 1097 Battle of Dorylaeum Crusaders under Bohemond of Taranto defeat a Turkish army under Qilich Arslan I. 1690 Battle of the Boyne as reck, 1867Events January 8 African-American men granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia January 11 Benito Juarez becomes Mexican president again January 30 Emperor Komei of Japan dies. Crown Prince Mutsuhito is expected to become the next Emperor of J - November 5November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. Events 1500-1899 1556 Fifty miles north of Delhi, a Mogul Army defeats Hindu forces of General Hemu to ensure Akbar the throne of India. 1605, 1873Events The United Kingdom declares war against Ghana's King Kofi KariKari, who was involved in the trading of slaves. The war ended by July and the British established the Gold Coast Colony. January 17 Indian Wars: First Battle of the Stronghold during th | Sir John A. MacdonaldSir John Alexander Macdonald Rank 1st ( 1867- 1873 and 1878- 1891) Date of Birth January 11, 1815 Place of Birth Glasgow, Scotland Spouses Isabella Clark Susan Agnes Bernard Profession lawyer Political Party Conservative The Right Honourable Sir John Alex |
| 2. | Jane Sym | November 7November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. Events 1665 The London Gazette, the oldest surviving journal, is first published. 1783 A man convicted of forgery is the last to be publicly h, 1873 - October 8, 1878 | Alexander Mackenzie |
| Susan Agnes Bernard | October 17, 1878 - June 6, 1891 | Sir John A. Macdonald | |
| 3. | Mary Bethune | June 16, 1891 - November 24, 1892 | Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott |
| 4. | Annie Affleck | December 5, 1892 - December 12, 1894 | Sir John Sparrow David Thompson |
| 5. | Harriet Moore | December 21, 1894 - April 27, 1896 | Sir Mackenzie Bowell |
| 6. | Frances Morse | May 1, 1896 - July 8, 1896 | Sir Charles Tupper |
| 7. | Zoe Lafontaine | July 11, 1896 - October 7, 1911 | Sir Wilfrid Laurier |
| 8. | Laura Bond | October 10, 1911 - July 10, 1920 | Sir Robert Laird Borden |
| 9. | Isabel J. Cox | July 10, 1920 - December 29, 1921 | Arthur Meighen |
| Isabel J. Cox | June 29, 1926 - September 25, 1926 | Arthur Meighen | |
| 10. | Jeanne Renault | November 15, 1948 - June 21, 1957 | Louis Stephen St. Laurent |
| 11. | Olive Palmer | June 21, 1957 - April 22, 1963 | John George Diefenbaker |
| 12. | Maryon Moody | April 22, 1963 - April 20, 1968 | Lester Bowles Pearson |
| 13. | Margaret Sinclair | March 4, 1971 - 1977* | Pierre Trudeau |
| 14. | Maureen McTeer | June 4, 1979 - March 2, 1980 | Joe Clark |
| 15. | Geills McCrae Kilgour | June 30, 1984 - September 17, 1984 | John Napier Turner |
| 16. | Mila Pivnicki | September 17, 1984 - June 25, 1993 | Brian Mulroney |
| 17. | Aline Chainé | November 4, 1993 - December 12, 2003 | Jean Chrétien |
| 18. | Sheila Ann Cowan | December 12, 2003 - | Paul Martin |
(*)The Trudeaus separated in 1977 but did not obtain a divorce until 1984.
Canadian politics *