Spouses

The Prime Minister is not the head of state; thus, his or her spouse does not officially play as active a role in Canadian affairs as the royal consorts and vice-regal consorts. The Prime Minister's spouse, however, is still generally regarded as a public figure, frequently accompanying the Prime Minister on campaign and other public appearances, and often hosting dignitaries at the Prime Minister's residence, 24 Sussex Drive.
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 is not a recognized title. 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.
At times, prime ministers' spouses 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. Conversely, other prime ministers' spouses, including Geills Turner and Sheila Martin, were uncomfortable with the public aspects of their role and tried to minimize their time in the press spotlight.
Some prime ministers' spouses have attracted a great deal of attention for other reasons: 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, most famously when she was featured on the covers of international tabloids after being seen partying at Studio 54. 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.