‘Wonderful and positive’: PM Trudeau thankful for Canadians’ messages post-split

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s grateful for the kind messages he’s received from Canadians and is focused on moving forward, following the news that he and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau have signed a legal separation agreement.

“First I want to thank all the people who have reached out over the past number of weeks with warm wishes, with personal messages, with personal stories that have been just wonderful and positive,” Trudeau said on Monday, speaking to reporters ahead of a federal cabinet retreat in Prince Edward Island.

“I got a really good 10 days with the family to focus on the kids, to focus on being together and moving forward. And I really, really want to thank Canadians for having been so incredibly gracious and incredibly generous in respecting our privacy and our space. It really, it really makes things easier.”

This was the first time the prime minister was asked about the separation, since the pair jointly announced the split after 18 years of marriage, on Aug. 2. Shortly after, the two took their children— Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien—on a family vacation to Tofino, B.C. 

While he was specifically asked how he was feeling after the separation, the prime minister didn’t answer that question directly.

The two have vowed to maintain a constant presence in co-parenting, however Gregoire Trudeau is no longer considered the prime minister’s spouse in any official capacity.

Asked whether this means Gregoire Trudeau will have any role publicly moving forward, the prime minister was quick to pivot his comments back to his work.

“We’ve addressed that,” he said. “I’m here and glad to be talking about childcare and everything we’re doing together to build a better future, not just for my kids, but for everyone across the country.”

More to come…