Justin Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announce separation

Last seen publicly together on Canada Day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau broke the news also together with two matching statements on their Instagram accounts. 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. News of their breakup spread quickly. Plus a surprising announcement from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Justin Trudeau stunned his nation today. He and his wife of 18 years Sophie will be separating. The Prime Minister's office confirmed the pair have signed a legal separation agreement. Adding both parents will be a constant presence in their children's lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together. The couple married in 2005 and have three kids aged 15, 14 and 9. Since her husband became Prime Minister in 2015 Gregoire-Trudeau has been in the public eye. Meeting dignitaries from around the world. We never went into it thinking oh this is going to be an easy ride. Uh no. We were very conscious of what we were getting into and this is what we wanted. She's been an advocate for gender equality and mental health. By loving who you are for who you are you're making everything else possible and let me tell you beside me right now stands a man that I love deeply. The two have shown affection. Don't go yet my love. But were also candid about the challenges of marriage. Saying their own wasn't perfect or easy. Trudeau a child of divorce himself. His parents separated when he was a little boy. Pierre Trudeau the only other Canadian Prime Minister to split with his wife while in office. Sources say Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau has moved into her own place in Ottawa. The Prime Minister and their kids will stay at Rideau Cottage where she will also spend time. The family is asking for privacy and next week will leave for a vacation together. Marina von Stackelberg, CBC News, Ottawa. While this is a personal matter it does have implications for the Prime Minister's office. Host of CBC Radio's The House Catherine Cullen joins me with a look at that. Catherine what are you hearing? Well there are practical political implications in the sense that staff had to be briefed today on the news before it went public. Liberal caucus had a private virtual meeting led by Justin Trudeau's longtime friend Cabinet Minister Dominic Leblanc who took questions. There's also Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau's role as an at least occasional political spokesperson. In the past she's given speeches at Liberal Convention. In the spring she held an event here in Ottawa with U.S. First Lady Jill Biden. Now we understand she will no longer be a spokesperson in that same way so she will no longer have government staff dedicated to her personal appearances. And inevitably there are security considerations as housing arrangements change. And then there's the question of when Justin Trudeau addresses this publicly. That's right he's taking a vacation as we heard with the family next week. We expect that he will make a public appearance, some kind of public remarks before that. So it does become a communications issue to be managed and as Marina mentioned the international interest is significant. He has led this country for almost eight years. He's known on the global stage one of the longer serving leaders. So this change also makes international headlines. Now the separation is not in any way a source of political debate thus far. And given that it is ultimately still a sensitive personal matter that involves three children it may stay that way. Thanks Catherine. You're welcome.