Sophie Grégoire Trudeau était à Donnacona, lundi, aux côtés de 4600 adolescentes pour le lancement d'une activité de Filleactive, un organisme qui fait la promotion d'un mode de vie sain et actif. Elle en est devenue la porte-parole. 
 
 Mais la conjointe du premier ministre, qui s'est impliquée dans plusieurs causes au cours des dernières années, est inondée de demandes. «C'est difficile de choisir parce que c'est touchant, les gens qui veulent ton aide. C'est épouvantable les lettres que je reçois, les personnes qui souffrent. Tu te dis : je vais essayer de transmettre un message qui va rejoindre le plus de gens possible.» 
 
 En attendant, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau n'a pas de local à sa disposition à l'édifice Langevin qui abrite le bureau du premier ministre. «J'ai un bureau chez nous sur ma table à dîner. On veut dépoussiérer un peu les vieilles méthodes patriarcales et on veut moderniser l'appareil qui nous permet de servir les gens, parce que les gens veulent qu'on le modernise. Ça, c'est clair dans notre tête. J'ai une personne qui m'aide à recevoir les demandes, à leur répondre, et on en a plus qu'on peut en traiter.» 
 
 Pourquoi avoir choisi Filleactive? Elle ne connaissait même pas la fondatrice, Claudine Labelle, une ancienne athlète d'élite qui a créé l'organisme en 2007 pour stimuler les adolescentes de 12 à 17 ans à prendre leur santé en main. 
 
 Mais elle a lu son histoire qui l'a touchée : «Je prends souvent mes décisions non seulement sur l'ouverture du coeur, mais aussi sur les faits. Or c'est un fait que les jeunes Canadiennes ne bougent pas assez. C'est un fait que les jeunes Canadiennes ont de la misère à construire une estime d'elles-mêmes sur des valeurs profondes et non pas sur ce qu'on nous présente dans notre culture de compétition, d'individualisme et de comparaison.» 
 
 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau a connu des problèmes de désordre alimentaire pendant son adolescence. Elle en a contre certains messages des médias sociaux : «Tu dois avoir l'air de ça, tu dois te comporter comme ça pour être femme ou pour être un gars. Tout ce qui nous restreint dans notre liberté, dans l'expression de ce qu'on est, c'est au détriment de l'être humain.» 
 
 Elle en a également contre la normalisation de la violence par rapport à la femme dans les cours d'école. «Il y a une culture non seulement de haine envers soi-même, de comparaison et de compétition, mais aussi de violence envers la femme qui est reliée à la pornographie, aux images d'hypersexualisation dans les médias. Les jeunes filles se retrouvent dans un endroit où elles ne savent pas où grandir, entre étant appelées une prude ou une fille facile.» 
 
 Selon elle, les jeunes hommes ont besoin de modèles masculins et féminins pour être interpellés vers les changements qui s'imposent. Comment compte-t-elle faire pour passer ses messages? Elle répond que même si elle allait dans 200 écoles, ce qui «n'est vraiment pas possible», cela ne suffirait pas. «Il y a moyen de transmettre une connexion sincère et une conversation sincère, et là les nouvelles technologies nous aident. Alors j'espère pouvoir les utiliser au maximum.» ||||| © Joshua Roberts/REUTERS Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, wife of Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, sits during a State Dinner at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016. 
 
 The wife of Canada’s prime minister has sparked a fierce national debate after saying she needs more help to expand her official role and take on more public duties. 
 
 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau last week told a French-language newspaper that she wanted to do more, but struggled with just one staff member. 
 
 Grégoire Trudeau, a former TV presenter married to Justin Trudeau, has no office and reportedly answers official correspondence from her dining table. 
 
 
 
 “I’d love to be everywhere but I can’t,” she told Le Soleil. “I have three children and a husband who is prime minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve the people.” 
 
 Grégoire Trudeau said she received regular requests from charities to promote their causes, but she could not respond to them all without an extra hand. 
 
 “It’s hard to choose, because it’s touching when people ask for your help. People really lay out their suffering in some of the letters I receive.” 
 
 The statement prompted howls of outrage from opposition politicians, who accused her of being out of touch and noted that the previous first lady coped with just one aide. 
 
 “Hearing statements like that certainly does not speak to the reality that Canadian women face and the kind of struggles that, you know, that they’re undertaking day in, day out,” opposition MP Niki Ashton said. 
 
 “Certainly the kind of statements we heard from the prime minister’s wife, you know, speak to that disconnect with the reality that Canadian women face.” 
 
 The prime minister’s office said it was looking in to hiring a second staffer for the first lady. 
 
 Meanwhile, Twitter users likened Grégoire Trudeau to Kim Kardashian and started the hashtag #prayforSophie. 
 
 Yes, you've reached the office of Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. To which assistant may I direct your call? #PrayForSophie pic.twitter.com/bi5xPWkyQt — Cat Cdn Poli (@CatCDNPoli) May 14, 2016 
 
 I don't have enough hired help to get through my day either. I sympathize with you, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. #JeSuisSophie — Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) May 12, 2016 
 
 We should have a telethon to raise money to get Sophie Trudeau the help she needs. #PrayForSophie #SophieStrong pic.twitter.com/IyUJDDwUs9 — Stephen Taylor (@stephen_taylor) May 12, 2016 
 
 The role of “first lady” has no real formal status in the Canadian system, but the prime minister’s wife traditionally gets support in performing official activities, a point that was made by supporters of Gregoire Trudeau. 
 
 The Toronto Star newspaper ran an editorial on Sunday titled: Sophie Grégoire Trudeau should have all the help she needs to fulfill her role. 
 
 “The instant, often spiteful reaction from both social media and other politicians who should know better smacks of ignorance about the requirements of the role the prime minister’s wife has taken on,” it said. 
 
 CBC News suggested the first lady was targeted because she was a “tall poppy”, something Canadians abhor. 
 
 Grégoire Trudeau herself has not commented on the furore. 
 
 But some on Twitter suggested the hounding of Gregoire Trudeau was not just about politics, but sexism, while an open letter to the first lady of Facebook noted “society seems to have a problem when women ask for help”. ||||| This is The Globe’s daily politics newsletter. Sign up to get it by e-mail each morning. 
 
 POLITICS BRIEFING 
 
 By Chris Hannay (@channay) 
 
 Few political issues in recent weeks seem to have resonated in non-political circles as much as the issue of Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s assistants. Ms. Grégoire Trudeau said last week that the mountain of correspondence she receives and her work promoting various causes and speaking to charitable organizations is becoming too demanding for her and her assistant, and so the Prime Minister’s Office was looking at ways to get her additional help. Opposition MPs, of course, said this was evidence of a “disconnect” between the Trudeaus and average Canadians (a theme espoused by the National Post’s Robyn Urback, who said it was “off-message” for a party concerning itself with the middle class.) Others have said, because Canada hasn’t historically had a “first lady,” it doesn’t need one now. 
 
 The Toronto Star’s Heather Mallick made the case that this is debate is really about what people think about Ms. Grégoire Trudeau, and not about the staffing itself. 
 
 But for an outside perspective – and one that many Canadian parents may be sympathetic to – it’s worth considering the view of Chatelaine editor Christina Vardanis. “By speaking openly about the challenges she faces as a working mother of three, she spurs a necessary conversation about the enormous strain on working families, lets other women know it’s okay to speak up when they need help and could even inspire demand for better resources and infrastructure. Just because she has financial resources doesn’t mean she’s immune to the intense stress a job or family circumstances can bring.” 
 
 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IN OTTAWA 
 
 > The Liberals will introduce legislation this week to extend protections to transgender Canadians. Justin Trudeau is set to make the announcement later today. 
 
 > Finance Minister Bill Morneau meets with his team of economic advisers in Chelsea, Que., today. 
 
 > The Liberals are also looking at giving new powers to the information commissioner – and giving cabinet the power to block release of those documents if it wishes. 
 
 > Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose spent the weekend in the Maritimes to try to “earn back” the trust of Atlantic Canadians, after the Liberals swept the region last October. 
 
 > Maxime Bernier and Michael Chong became the second and third candidates, respectively, for the leadership of the Conservative party, after Kellie Leitch. Mr. Chong says he is putting a strong emphasis on reforming our democratic institutions, while Mr. Bernier says he’s learned his lessons from his short time as foreign affairs minister. “What I learned is very simple,” he said. “Being more cautious with confidential documents.” 
 
 > In other leadership news, the New Democrats will elect a replacement for Tom Mulcair in the fall of 2017. 
 
 > Senator Patrick Brazeau opened up to the Ottawa Citizen about his darkest hour, when he tried to take his own life earlier this year. 
 
 > Lifeline Syria, one of the most prominent groups resettling Syrian refugees in Toronto, has had its executive director and half of its board quit. 
 
 > And from pieces of mannequins to Harry Potter gear, all the odd items for sale on the Canadian government’s version of eBay. 
 
 REGIONAL ROUNDUP 
 
 > Ontario: The province will spend $7-billion over four years on a massive climate plan that will touch on all aspects of residents’ lives. The plan is so sweeping, some sources say it’s causing tensions between Environment Minister Glen Murray and his cabinet colleagues. 
 
 > Manitoba: The legislature kicks off its first session since the election with a Speech from the Throne this afternoon. 
 
 > Nova Scotia: The four Atlantic premiers are set to meet in Annapolis Royal today to talk about how to get more funding from the federal government for health care in the region. 
 
 WHAT EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT 
 
 Campbell Clark (Globe and Mail): “You have to think there’s a better way [to craft the assisted-dying legislation]. This is literally a matter of life and death, a change to criminal law to deal with the difficult issues of grievous suffering and end of life. But collectively, parliamentarians have shown they tend to dodge these uncomfortable, divisive issues.” (for subscribers) 
 
 David McLaughlin (Globe and Mail): “Considering how to change voting systems isn’t new in Canada. But five provinces that did this each took about two years to do it, not six months. Each proposed a two – or three-step process involving the legislature, independent commissions or citizen assemblies and in four cases, a referendum. The Liberal majoritarian plan is a marked departure.” 
 
 Barrie McKenna (Globe and Mail): “The Liberals are absolutely right to stop tilting the balance even further in favour of [small business]. It’s bad tax policy that’s expensive and sends all the wrong signals to business owners. The government would be wise to go a step further and end the preference altogether.” (for subscribers) 
 
 Toronto Star editorial board: “After six months as Canada’s top diplomat, [Stéphane] Dion is starting to give the impression that his pragmatism knows no bounds. There’s reason to worry he’s erring in the opposite direction: too much responsible, not enough conviction.” 
 
 Dan Leger (Halifax Chronicle Herald): “Referendum or no referendum, the Liberals should not be able to set the rules and then capitalize on their current popularity to dominate the process to their own narrow partisan advantage.” 
 
 Welcome to the Globe Politics newsletter! Let us know what you think. 
 
 Report Typo/Error ||||| Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau walk to Rideau Hall for swearing-in last Nov. 4. ( Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) 
 
 It may well have been politically unwise for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau to publicly raise her need for more staff to help organize her public engagements in an interview with a Quebec City newspaper this past week. A high-profile woman seen to be asking for more help clearly leaves herself open to criticism. But the instant, often spiteful reaction from both social media and other politicians who should know better smacks of ignorance about the requirements of the role the prime minister’s wife has taken on. This should not be a debate about Grégoire Trudeau’s privileged position. Comparing her problems to those of day-to-day working women amounts to a kind of faux populism that ducks the real questions. Instead, the focus should be on what we expect of the spouse of our prime minister, and the opportunities her role affords to represent Canada and promote important causes. Seen like that, the answer is clear: she should have the help she needs to carry out the work that Canadians want her to do. If that means an extra staff member to organize her appearances and correspondence, then she should have it. 
 
 Article Continued Below 
 
 It should come as no surprise that the demands on her are greater than those on previous PMs’ wives. Justin Trudeau is riding a wave of popularity that extends to his entire family, especially his wife. The Prime Minister’s Office says she’s been deluged with requests to appear at events and lend her support to all kinds of causes. That’s why she made the plea for extra help, in addition to the single assistant the PMO now employs on her behalf. “I’d like to be everywhere but I can’t,” she told Le Soleil. “I have three children and a husband who is Prime Minister. I need help.” The Conservatives say she should just suck it up, and asking for help amounts to wanting to do more “self-promotion” at taxpayers’ expense. That kind of rhetoric may play well with people who just don’t like the Trudeaus, but the opposition parties are taking the low road when they make the role of the prime minister’s wife a partisan issue. 
 
 It should be noted that Grégoire Trudeau is not asking for another employee to lessen her workload, but to increase it. She lamented that because she doesn’t have enough staff she is forced to make difficult choices about who she can help. In other words, she wants to do more in a role that is, after all, unpaid. There are many precedents for this. PM’s wives have taken on various roles, depending on their personalities and popularity. All had at least one assistant to help with public duties. Mila Mulroney had three staffers and an office in the Langevin Block across from Parliament Hill. Is it any surprise that someone in as much demand as Grégoire Trudeau should find that one aide is not enough? She has taken on a high-profile role, partly because she wants to and partly because Canadians want her to. She draws attention and donations when she speaks on behalf of aboriginal and girls education, and to raise awareness about bulimia and anorexia. Her work raises the profile of Canadian arts and fashion around the world. Nor is Grégoire Trudeau taking on all this simply to polish her husband’s reputation. Even in 2005, when she joined the entertainment program eTalk as a Quebec correspondent, she said she was looking forward to “reporting on Canada’s French and English stars who support social causes and bring about positive change.” Now that she’s in a high-profile position herself, she’s making it her work to bring about change. It’s quite true that the prime minister’s wife does not have a formal role, as the First Lady does in the United States. But the reality is that Canadians increasingly expect the PM’s spouse to play a significant public role. Ignoring that would be disrespectful to those seeking her help, and would squander an opportunity to do good work. Opposition politicians should watch to make sure all this doesn’t get out of control. But they should stop playing politics with this issue and support Grégoire Trudeau’s modest request for more help to do a job on behalf of all Canadians. 
 
 Read more about: ||||| Aversion to the success of one's peers 
 
 The tall poppy syndrome describes aspects of a culture where people of high status are resented, attacked, cut down, strung up or criticised because they have been classified as superior to their peers. The term has been used in cultures of the English-speaking world.[1][2][3][4][5] 
 
 Etymology [ edit ] 
 
 Tarquinius Superbus by by Lawrence Alma-Tadema , depicting the king receiving a laurel wreath ; the poppies in the foreground refer to the "tall poppy" allegory 
 
 The concept originates from accounts in Herodotus' Histories (Book 5, 92f), Aristotle's Politics (1284a), and Livy's Ab Urbe Condita Libri, Book I. 
 
 [Periander] had sent a herald to Thrasybulus and inquired in what way he would best and most safely govern his city. Thrasybulus led the man who had come from Periander outside the town, and entered into a sown field. As he walked through the wheat, continually asking why the messenger had come to him from Cypselus, he kept cutting off all the tallest ears of wheat which he could see, and throwing them away, until he had destroyed the best and richest part of the crop. Then, after passing through the place and speaking no word of counsel, he sent the herald away. When the herald returned to Cypselus, Periander desired to hear what counsel he brought, but the man said that Thrasybulus had given him none. The herald added that it was a strange man to whom he had been sent, a madman and a destroyer of his own possessions, telling Periander what he had seen Thrasybulus do. Periander, however, understood what had been done, and perceived that Thrasybulus had counselled him to slay those of his townsmen who were outstanding in influence or ability; with that he began to deal with his citizens in an evil manner. — Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, 92-f 
 
 Aristotle uses Herodotus' story in his Politics (1284a)[6] with reversed roles, referring to Periander's advice to Thrasybulus via a herald. 
 
 The story is that Periander made no reply to the herald sent to ask his advice, but levelled the corn-field by plucking off the ears that stood out above the rest; and consequently, although the herald did not know the reason for what was going on, when he carried back news of what had occurred, Thrasybulus understood that he was to destroy the outstanding citizens. — Aristotle, Politics, Book 3, 1284a 
 
 The specific reference to poppies occurs in Livy's account of the tyrannical Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. He is said to have received a messenger from his son Sextus Tarquinius asking what he should do next in Gabii, since he had become all-powerful there. Rather than answering the messenger verbally, Tarquin went into his garden, took a stick, and symbolically swept it across his garden, thus cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies that were growing there. The messenger, tired of waiting for an answer, returned to Gabii and told Sextus what he had seen. Sextus realised that his father wished him to put to death all of the most eminent people of Gabii, which he then did.[7] 
 
 The earliest English-language example of Tall Poppies being used as a metaphor for notables may be found in Roger L'Estrange's newspaper, The Observator, in 1710. One party to a dialogue relates the tale of Tarquin, and later observes approvingly of his Royalist allies, "If you'll have but a little Patience, you may see them make very noble Efforts towards striking off the Heads of the tall Poppies."[8] 
 
 By 1835, the metaphor had crossed the Atlantic to the United States,[clarification needed (see talk)] where the Torch Light of Hagerstown, Maryland, observed of then-Congressman Francis Thomas, "Politically, Mr. Thomas and his friends are imitating the example of Tarquin and Sextius – indeed it is said some of the tall poppies of our county are in danger of decapitation."[9] 
 
 There is a similar legend about the king Ramiro II of Aragon, who asked for some advice to his old master to deal with some nobles who questioned his power. His master did not say anything but just cut the heads of the tallest roses in the garden. This legend is known as the "Bell of Huesca". 
 
 Usage in Australia [ edit ] 
 
 The phrase can be found as early as 1864 in a controversy over the awarding of a knighthood: 
 
 It is more difficult to find a similar recommendation for such a dignity as the Order of the Garter. But then it derives a collateral value from the fact that it is always given either to people of singular distinction, or else to men whose social position is sufficient to make them formidable to the Minister of the day. It is a kind of public proclamation that you are a tall poppy and that, as in these days your head cannot be struck off, it is worth while to buy you.[10] 
 
 Again in 1904 in a report of a debate in the Federal Parliament: 
 
 Senator. O'Keefe– He regarded the appointment of a High Commissioner as necessary. Sir William Zeal– Another tall poppy. Senator. O'Keefe– Some tall poppies were necessary."[11] 
 
 In 1930 one may read: 
 
 Unquestionably one of the evils of Government in Australia and Britain is the appalling cost of administration, from the tall poppy at £3,000 per annum to the toiler at £260.[12] 
 
 The phrase has been in more common use since Jack Lang, Premier of New South Wales, described his egalitarian policies as "cutting the heads off tall poppies" in 1931. "Mr. Lang made some of the tall poppies suffer who could be made to suffer."[13] "The tall poppies of the party had dragged Mr. Lang's name into the debate to cloud the issue."[14] 
 
 The phrase experienced a revival with the publication of Susan Mitchell's best-selling book Tall Poppies in 1984 in which Mitchell interviewed nine successful Australian women.[15] 
 
 Of the Australian definition, Peter Hartcher of the Sydney Morning Herald writes, "(Australian) citizens know that some among them will have more power and money than others... But according to the unspoken national ethos, no Australian is permitted to assume that he or she is better than any other Australian. How is this enforced? By the prompt corrective of levelling derision. It has a name—The "Tall Poppy Syndrome". The tallest flowers in the field will be cut down to the same size as all the others. This is sometimes misunderstood... It isn't success that offends Australians. It's the affront committed by anyone who starts to put on superior airs."[citation needed] 
 
 Usage in Britain [ edit ] 
 
 Prior to becoming British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher explained her philosophy to an American audience as "let your poppies grow tall." [16][clarification needed] 
 
 The quote was made in the United States for political purposes and any assertion that the United Kingdom itself has a culture of tall poppy syndrome in the crab mentality sense like Australia and New Zealand[17] has been disputed.[18] 
 
 Explanation [ edit ] 
 
 Belief in the strength of this cultural phenomenon, and the degree to which it represents a negative trait, is to some extent influenced by politics. Tall poppy syndrome is related to what some call "the politics of envy".[citation needed] 
 
 Some commentators[who?] have argued that tall poppy syndrome is a universal phenomenon, that is more common in some cultures. The concepts of janteloven or "Law of Jante", in Scandinavia, and A kent yer faither (English: I knew your father) in Scotland, are very similar. Similar phenomena are said to exist in the Netherlands (where it is called maaiveldcultuur). In the United States, Benjamin Franklin Fairless, president of United States Steel Corporation (1950), criticised such behaviour when he stated: "You cannot strengthen one by weakening another; and you cannot add to the stature of a dwarf by cutting off the leg of a giant".[19] 
 
 Zero-sum prestige [ edit ] 
 
 Some sociologists, notably Max Weber, believe that in certain social groups, the acquisition of prestige and power is a zero-sum game, and this situation may provide a rationalisation for the dislike of "tall poppies".[20] In such groups, there is only a limited amount of prestige for its members to share in and only a fixed quantity of attention, authority and material resources that its members can give to each other. Status is a relative value, so for someone to rise in status, another person must fall. A person who is more prestigious is an obstacle to another person's rise simply by being more prestigious, and a person who suddenly rises is an outright threat to the other's current status. Humiliating or sabotaging a popular member of the group will lower that person's status and thus make it possible for the aggressor to supplant him in the group hierarchy. 
 
 This zero-sum pattern can be found in small groups characterised by fixed hierarchies and where there is little movement in or out of the group. Examples include poor American communities and some street gangs.[21][22] A related concept is that of a crab mentality in which successful members of a disadvantaged community are seen as undermining the standing of other community members. The image is drawn from the observation that a crab clawing its way out of a bucket (or barrel in other versions) is pulled back down by its fellows.[citation needed] 
 
 Impact [ edit ] 
 
 Research performed at the University of Waikato in New Zealand in 2015 shows that a culture of tall poppy syndrome may result in a reduction in average performance of up to 20% for an organisation and explains how electronic cyberbullying can be considered a modern extension to the physical assassinations of King Tarquin's day.[17] 
 
 See also [ edit ] 
 
 Law of Jante, a similar concept in the Nordic countries 
 
 References [ edit ] ||||| A common theme in all the carping and snarking about Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is that she has NO official role, and NO official duties — that she's a "stay-at-home mom," and therefore she should pay for her help the way everybody else has to. 
 
 Well, first of all, she hasn't asked for any more help to take care of her kids. 
 
 As for her not having any official duties, yes, that's technically true; there is actually only one government spouse in Ottawa with official duties, and that's the Governor General's wife, who gets to call herself Her Excellency, and act as consort to the representative of Canada's head of state, cutting ribbons and greeting important guests and so forth. 
 
 Now, quick: Name the Governor General's wife. 
 
 The reason you probably can't is that Sharon Johnston, while no doubt a lovely, public-spirited woman, is not a tall poppy. 
 
 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is. And a lot of Canadians just can't stand a tall poppy. 
 
 Sophie Trudeau has NO official duties. She's a stay-at-home Mom with a driver, chef, two nannies and cleaning staff. https://t.co/ajwK749nQL — @Banks_Todd 
 
 If Sophie Trudeau wants a larger staff to help w/her responsibilities, kids & job, other working moms shouldn't have to pay for it. #cdnpoli — @paigemacp 
 
 Tall poppies stick out because they're really smart, or really rich, or talented and famous, or, as Derek Zoolander would put it, "really really really good looking." 
 
 In the United States, people love tall poppies. The average American looks at a tall poppy and says: "I want to be like that." 
 
 In Canada, we look at tall poppies and cluck and disapprove and fervently hope somebody takes them down a peg or two. Who do they think they are, anyway? 
 
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau were featured in the January issue of Vogue. (Norman Jean Roy/Vogue) 
 
 After Grégoire Trudeau told a Quebec newspaper she needs more than the one staffer she has to cope with her new workload, Conservative MP Candice Bergen called it "hypocrisy," and managed to blame the prime minister. 
 
 The NDP called it a "troubling pattern" of using the public dime for support ordinary Canadians aren't provided. 
 
 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, sniffed her critics, is just out of touch with the common Canadian. 
 
 Well, please. 
 
 I don't pay much attention to Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, but I know she's amazingly popular, and I understand why. 
 
 She puts her hand over her heart, and she empathizes, and she's very pretty, and open about her own shortcomings, and seems determined to help young girls navigate a fragile time of life and grow into mature, accomplished women. 
 
 Her cause is women's empowerment, with a corollary of bulimia and eating disorders, something she herself once overcame. 
 
 She talks about her personal problems, and she breaks into song in public, and appears in Vogue doing that forehead-touching thing with her husband. 
 
 This drives conservatives nuts, but it made her a sensation in America. First lady Michelle Obama pronounced her a "soulmate." (Being a sensation in America is also frowned on by a segment of Canadians.) 
 
 Michelle Obama called Sophie Grégoire Trudeau a 'soulmate.' (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) 
 
 It's also made her a super-hot ticket for charities here at home. 
 
 The Prime Minister's Office says she gets 50 to 60 requests a week to appear at some worthy event or other: speak at our commencement, act as our patron, speak at our fundraiser, use your blazing fame to help us….please. 
 
 And she does. She tries to answer all the invitations with a yes or a no, because it is simply not possible to accept them all. 
 
 She tries to make speeches that don't mail it in, and if you've ever made a speech, you know the time and effort that takes. 
 
 Her work requires flying around, which can be exhausting, and staying in hotels, which gets old really fast. 
 
 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau sings a song she wrote at a City of Ottawa event to mark Martin Luther King Day. (CBC) 
 
 But here's the thing: She does it for free. She could just as easily say, "Yeah, OK, listen, no. I'm off to teach a yoga class and play with my kids." 
 
 She could, as Aline Chrétien did and Olive Diefenbaker before that, remain quietly in the background. It'd sure be a lot less work. 
 
 But she doesn't, and all she's asking is for an extra staffer or two to cope with the sheer volume of supplicants – who, let's not forget, are Canadian taxpayers with expectations. 
 
 The last prime ministerial spouse as famous and as in-demand as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was Mila Mulroney, who put her brains, beauty and glamour to much the same use. Her cause was cystic fibrosis, particularly in children. 
 
 Her husband gave her an office, and three staff, which also caused a big uproar (except from Conservatives, who seemed to think it was a good idea). 
 
 Mila Mulroney put her brains, beauty and glamour to much the same use as Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. Her cause was cystic fibrosis, particularly in children. (Ron Poling/Canadian Press) 
 
 "It was almost like being in a cabinet minister's office, in terms of workload and requests from the public," says Bonnie Brownlee, who for years was Mila Mulroney's majordomo and now works for the CBC. 
 
 "I can't think of an ethnic festival we didn't attend. Graduating classes, lots of medical stuff, 4-H clubs, women's associations, just everything you can imagine. The amount of correspondence alone was incredible." 
 
 And, like Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Mila Mulroney never made a cent from it: "It's kind of a public mission," says Brownlee, who, incidentally, thinks Grégoire Trudeau is doing a crackerjack job and wishes her well. 
 
 Brownlee thinks Grégoire Trudeau has a remarkable opportunity to make a difference: "It's contribution to public service. It's volunteerism." 
 
 And she's doing it. Good for her. If she needs a few more staff, fine. It's at least as good a use for public money as, say, the business of the Senate. ||||| The Prime Minister’s Office is exploring various options – including hiring a second staffer – after Sophie Grégoire Trudeau publicly complained she is struggling to deal with the workload that comes with her duties, federal officials told The Globe and Mail. 
 
 Speaking in Quebec City earlier this week, Ms. Grégoire Trudeau bluntly said she and her current assistant can’t manage the number of demands that come from being a high-profile, bilingual and much sought-after speaker. Various groups and charitable organizations regularly invite Ms. Grégoire Trudeau to promote their causes, but the constant requests are proving impossible to address under current circumstances, she said. 
 
 “I’d like to be everywhere, but I can’t,” Ms. Grégoire Trudeau said in an interview with daily newspaper Le Soleil. “I have three children at home and a husband who is Prime Minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve people.” 
 
 She added that with one staffer, she cannot respond to everyone who contacts her. “We want to modernize the system that allows us to serve the people, because people want us to modernize it.” 
 
 The PMO told The Globe and Mail that it is aware of the growing needs of Ms. Grégoire Trudeau and is looking at ways to assist her and her sole staffer, Natalie St-Denis. 
 
 To this point, PMO officials informally provide additional assistance, such as accompanying Ms. Grégoire Trudeau to events when Ms. St-Denis can’t attend. 
 
 However, there is a growing sense the current system cannot be sustained, given the personal popularity of Ms. Grégoire Trudeau, who has garnered international attention alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 
 
 “Madame Grégoire Trudeau continues to receive an extraordinarily high volume of correspondence and invitations. We are continuing to look at new ways to make sure she is supported at official events she is attending and to make sure correspondence from Canadians across the country and invitations are triaged and answered in a timely manner,” said PMO spokesman Olivier Duchesneau. 
 
 Still, the Liberals are not looking at replicating the American model, where the White House includes a formal Office of the First Lady, Mr. Duchesneau said. 
 
 Mr. Trudeau’s office is treading carefully, given questions about the cost of the services offered to the Trudeau household, including two nannies who sometimes travel with the couple’s children. 
 
 The PMO has said Mr. Trudeau is using the same budget for household help as his Conservative predecessor, Stephen Harper. However, Liberal officials said Ms. Grégoire Trudeau receives much more correspondence than Laureen Harper, which explains the potential need for additional administrative help. 
 
 A precedent was set by Mila Mulroney, who had an office at the Langevin Block, in front of the Parliament Buildings, and at least three staff working with her at one point. 
 
 Ms. Grégoire Trudeau has promoted Canadian designers with her fashion choices at public events, but she is also the voice for a number of causes, including promoting the health and self-esteem of young women. 
 
 “It’s hard to choose, because it’s touching when people ask for your help. People really lay out their suffering in some of the letters that I receive. I tell myself: ‘I’ll try to send a message that will reach as many people as possible,’” Ms. Grégoire Trudeau told Le Soleil. 
 
 She said she is also fighting against the fact that people often tend to see her solely as Mr. Trudeau’s wife, arguing society needs to evolve and respect the decisions that professional women make for their families. Ms. Grégoire Trudeau is a former television journalist. 
 
 Ms. Grégoire Trudeau said her mother, who stopped working as a nurse after she was born, didn’t become less intelligent or interesting because she decided to stay at home. 
 
 “There is always a price to pay, but the price shouldn’t be as high,” Ms. Grégoire Trudeau said of finding a balance between work and family. 
 
 Ms. Grégoire Trudeau was not available to comment on staffing issues to The Globe on Wednesday. 
 
 Report Typo/Error ||||| Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is coming under fire for publicly requesting additional staff to fulfill her public duties as the Prime Minister’s wife, even as millions of Canadian women struggle to balance their professional and personal lives. 
 
 “Statements like that really speak to a disconnect,” said NDP MP Niki Ashton. “The focus should be on what Canadian women face on a daily basis and how the federal government can support Canadian women.” 
 
 Ms. Ashton added that the Trudeau family has access to taxpayer-funded help at home, including two nannies, while millions of Canadians struggle with daycare costs. 
 
 Ms. Grégoire Trudeau has one assistant who helps her with her public duties, including co-ordinating her public appearances and going through the correspondence that she receives. Still, she said earlier this week that she can’t cope with the current demands on her time. 
 
 “I’d like to be everywhere, but I can’t,” Ms. Grégoire Trudeau said in an interview with Quebec City daily newspaper Le Soleil. “I have three children at home and a husband who is Prime Minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve people.” 
 
 The Conservatives said it’s up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to explain any additional resources that would be provided to his wife, while adding that Laureen Harper fulfilled her duties with only one assistant. 
 
 “It is really the hypocrisy of Mr. Trudeau at this point, always wanting more to do self-promotion, to do vanity trips,” said Conservative MP Candice Bergen. “That is where a lot of Canadians would question more [staff].” 
 
 Ms. Bergen said Ms. Harper was well known for doing “more with less,” and said the Liberals should try to do the same. 
 
 The Prime Minister’s Office said it is aware of the growing needs of Ms. Grégoire Trudeau and is looking at ways to assist her and her sole staffer, Natalie St-Denis. PMO officials currently provide additional assistance, such as accompanying Ms. Grégoire Trudeau to events when Ms. St-Denis can’t attend. 
 
 However, there is a growing sense the current system cannot be sustained, given the personal popularity of Ms. Grégoire Trudeau, who has garnered international attention alongside Mr. Trudeau. 
 
 “Madame Grégoire Trudeau continues to receive an extraordinarily high volume of correspondence and invitations. We are continuing to look at new ways to make sure she is supported at official events she is attending and to make sure correspondence from Canadians across the country and invitations are triaged and answered in a timely manner,” said PMO spokesman Olivier Duchesneau. 
 
 A precedent was set by Mila Mulroney, who had an office at the Langevin Block, in front of the Parliament Buildings, and at least three staff working with her at one point. 
 
 Ms. Grégoire Trudeau has promoted Canadian designers with her fashion choices at public events, but she is also the voice for a number of causes, including promoting the health and self-esteem of young women. 
 
 “It’s hard to choose, because it’s touching when people ask for your help. People really lay out their suffering in some of the letters that I receive. I tell myself: ‘I’ll try to send a message that will reach as many people as possible,’” Ms. Grégoire Trudeau told Le Soleil. 
 
 The Conservatives rejected the assertion by Liberals that Ms. Grégoire Trudeau has to deal with more correspondence and public events than Ms. Harper. 
 
 Report Typo/Error
– Political gloves are off in Canada after the prime minister's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, said she needs "a team" to help her "serve the people," reports MSN.com. In a French-language interview, the 41-year-old described her difficulty answering charity requests from her dining-room table while juggling family life with her husband, Justin Trudeau, and three children. "I’d love to be everywhere but I can't," she says. "I need help. ... People really lay out their suffering in some of the letters I receive." But in Canada, where there's no official "First Lady" position, some are accusing Grégoire Trudeau of abusing her role while others say critics are insensitive to working mothers or simply don't like the Trudeaus, the Globe & Mail reports. Among the reactions: "It is really the hypocrisy of Mr. Trudeau at this point, always wanting more to do self-promotion, to do vanity trips," a Conservative MP tells the Globe & Mail. "That is where a lot of Canadians would question more [staff]." A lawmaker with the left-wing NDP was no kinder, saying the interview "really speak[s] to a disconnect" about "what Canadian women face on a daily basis." But the Toronto Star notes that past PM's wives have had at least one assistant—as Grégoire Trudeau does—and one, Mila Mulroney, had three. Neil Macdonald argues at the CBC that Canadians just can't stand having a "tall poppy" around. "In Canada, we look at tall poppies and cluck and disapprove and fervently hope somebody takes them down a peg or two," he writes. "Who do they think they are, anyway?" An open letter on Facebook sees pure sexism: "We're supposed to be perfect mothers, wives, friends, employees and citizens, and we're not supposed to admit that we can't do it without a little help," writes Amanda Brennan. On a more practical note, the Prime Minister's office tells the Globe & Mail that it's considering giving Grégoire Trudeau a second assistant.