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Sheila Martin famously hated her husband’s job at the PMO. For much of her early years at 24 Sussex Drive, Laureen Harper stuck to charity appearances and the occasional cat-themed event.

But just four weeks after her husband took office, it is becoming clear Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau will take an unusually active hold on the often staid role of Prime Ministerial spouse. Her high profile has already brought criticism, after she replaced the prime ministerial chef, was featured in unauthorized jewelry marketing, and, it emerged this week, was granted the aid of two taxpayer-funded nannies.

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Even as the United States equips its First Ladies with a budget, duties and large staff, Canada has treated Prime Ministerial spouses much the same as the spouse of any other MP — and not even as well as the spouse of the Governor-General.

“Our model follows the British model and normally the spouse is not assigned specific or official duties,” said Robert Collette, Canada’s former chief of protocol, writing in an email to the National Post.