People Are Freaking Out Over Sophie Trudeau Receiving $3000 in Gifts

Honestly, can we please give Sophie Grégoire Trudeau a break?

She’s been bashed for everything from her karaoke skills to her choice to employ two nannies.

In the latest Sophie backlash, a citizen’s advocacy group is accusing Prime Minister Trudeau’s wife of not playing by the rules because she accepts gifts and clothing loans from Canadian designers.

“Pay for your own clothes, like everyone else has to, and rent them if it’s for a special event, like everyone else has to,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch. “She’s a celebrity, but she’s also the spouse of the most powerful politician in the country.”

First lady Michelle Obama and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau walk through the White House as they follow their husbands President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the State Dinner in Washington, Thursday, March 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Photo: Associated Press

According to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s public registry, Grégoire Trudeau has received clothing, jewellery and shoes worth a total of – wait for it – a whole $3000.

I know $3000 is a few months rent to some, but frankly, I expected this figure to be much higher.

She has received the following gifts:

  • Rudsak coat she wore to the funeral of René Angélil
  • Pink Tartan tuxedo suit, worn during an awards ceremony in New York
  • Ellie Mae jacket
  • Alan Anderson earrings
  • Five pairs of Aldo shoes 

No big deal, right?

Well, technically, under current regulations, all gifts over $200 in value must be disclosed to the registry, and loans with a rental value of over $200 must also be reported. Those valued at more than $1,000 are required to be forfeited to the Crown.

Justin Trudeau Sophie Trudeau

Image: Associated Press

Some pieces – like the now famous red and fuchsia Lucian Matis gown that Grégoire Trudeau wore at the White House this spring – don’t qualify in this category because they were samples that have no market value.

And, for the record, the beloved Canadian designer offered her the dresses worn on her Washington visit to keep as a gift for the publicity, but she politely declined.

So, she’s received a few thousand in gifts in the last eight months – most of her clothes she indeed does buy herself ($3000 doesn’t get you very far when you have multiple public appearances per week). And why should anyone even really care? Surely there’s more important political news to dominate headlines.

Instead of focusing on them, the focus should be on the soaring publicity she has given and will continue to give Canadian designers. It’s more important than ever, now that the country’s most important Fashion Week is a thing of the past.

But Conacher remains adamant that she still should not accept the free gifts.

“It’s also just a matter of personal ethics,” he told The Huffington Post Quebec. “You don’t get that perk just because you’re the wife of the prime minister, sorry. Pay for your own clothes and jewelry and, if it’s for a one-time use, rent whatever you want to wear just like everybody else has to.”

Justin Trudeau Marilou Trayvilla Sophie Trudeau

Image: Associated Press

According to Conacher, there are other, better ways to promote Canadian designers than to accept free gifts from them. “I think that part [supporting these designers] is fine,” said Conacher. “It’s no different from her going to a news conference and saying ‘I support this cause or that cause.’ But if she’s taking gifts to do that, she’s saying ‘I’m for sale’.”

So, what does the Prime Minister’s office have to say?

They responded by stating that Grégoire Trudeau is “proud to support Canadian designers and will continue to promote their work.” The PMO also says Grégoire Trudeau can’t accept gifts that “would place the prime minister in a situation of conflict of interests, whether real or apparent.”

Moving forward, the gifts received will be reported to the public registry as required, so that people can shut up and worry about things that actually matter.

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