Gifts from international politicians are different from company gifts, Conacher said, because they are part of establishing relationships between countries. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has achieved fashion icon status during her ascent into the spotlight, and has many applauding her for wearing Canadian designers. She, among other things, gave Grégoire Trudeau a custom alpaca cape by Alicia Adams. The PMO says Grégoire Trudeau can’t accept gifts that “would place the prime minister in a situation of conflict of interests, whether real or apparent.” The PMO’s Duchesneau pointed out that Laureen Harper, former prime minister Stephen Harper’s wife, accepted designer gifts while he was in office. “Sophie Grégoire Trudeau makes a point of wearing independent Canadian designers’ clothing at official events,” PMO spokesperson Olivier Duchesneau said in an emailed statement, adding all the gifts are “properly disclosed” to the registry.

Source: thestar July 27, 2016 02:17 UTC