Who is Justin Trudeau?
CANADIAN Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was narrowly re-elected for a third term in September 2021 after calling a vote two years early.
The 51-year-old leader was a teacher of French and mathematics in Vancouver before he stepped into the high-profile role of PM in 2015.
Who is Justin Trudeau?
Justin Trudeau, 51, is the leader of Canada's Liberal Party and the country's 23rd and current Prime Minister.
Born in Ottawa on Christmas Day in 1971, he became the second youngest Canadian PM behind Joe Clark when he took office aged 43 in November 2015.
Trudeau's father Pierre Trudeau was Clark's successor as PM and held office between 1968 and 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984 - the third longest-serving PM in Canadian history.
Trudeau studied for a literature degree before going on to become a teacher of French and mathematics in Vancouver.
He gained a high public profile when he delivered a eulogy at his father Pierre Trudeau's state funeral in 2000.
While he had always been a supporter of his father's Liberal Party, he didn't become fully involved in politics until eight years after his father's death.
He was elected to represent Papineau in the 2008 federal election and the following year appointed the Liberal Party's spokesman for youth and multiculturalism.
In 2010 he became a spokesman for citizenship and immigration and in 2011, for secondary education, youth, and amateur sport.
He won the leadership of the Liberal party in April 2013 and went on to win a landslide victory in the 2015 federal election.
In 2017, he announced his country would accept refugees after Donald Trump imposed a travel ban.
Trudeau tweeted: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada”.
Trump attacked "indignant" Trudeau in a Twitter tirade hours before the G7 summit in June 2018.
It came amid a trade dispute with Canada and EU countries after the US slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
In October 2019 Trudeau's Liberal Party retained power in the Canadian elections but lost their majority.
In September 2021, Canadians returned Trudeau to power in hotly contested elections against a rookie conservative leader, but he failed to gain an absolute majority.
He called the vote two years early, hoping for approval of his response to the Covid pandemic.
During his 2021 victory, Trudeau authorized military aid for Ukraine during the ongoing war.
What is his net worth?
Trudeau's net worth is estimated to be $88million or £69.2million.
As an MP for Papineau, Trudeau earns a base salary of $250,000 ($140,000 USD or £102,000). He also earns another $178,900 for his role as Prime Minister of Canada.
In total his salary is $379,000, equal to around $284,003 USD or £223,189.
Trudeau and his family live in a 22-bedroom mansion in Ottawa, which is paid for with public money.
They chose not to live in the traditional Prime Minister's residence – 24 Sussex Drive – which reportedly needs more than $10million in major renovations.
The current PM lived at 24 Sussex Drive when his father - Pierre Trudeau - was Prime Minister.
Who is Justin Trudeau's ex-wife?
Justin Trudeau met Sophie Gregoire when they were children growing up in Montreal as she was a classmate and friend of his youngest brother Michel.
But it wasn't until 2003 that they reconnected when Sophie - by then a TV personality - was assigned as his co-host for a charity ball.
They began dating several months later before announcing their engagement in October 2004.
The couple married in a Roman Catholic ceremony in May 2005 and have three children together - Xavier, born in 2007, Ella-Grace, born in 2009, and Hadrien, who arrived in 2014.
However, on August 2, 2023, Trudeau announced he and his wife are separating after 18 years together.
In a statement, Trudeau wrote: "Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate.
"As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build.
"For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you."
Trudeau's office announced they are taking the necessary legal steps in their separation. "They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward.
"They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment.
"The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.