Politics

Fashion designers dressing Sophie Grégoire Trudeau face strict rules

Here are the rules that govern Sophie Grégoire Trudeau’s relationship with fashion designers.

Any gift over $1,000 needs to be disclosed and forfeited to the Crown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife has been showered with gifts and loans of high-end clothing, shoes and jewelry from Canadian designers since her husband was sworn into office last year.

Here are the rules that have been set up to guide Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's relationship with those fashion designers: 

  1. Garment samples can be returned to designers or companies with no public declaration necessary, as samples do not have a fair market value.
  2. Loaned/borrowed clothing, other than a garment sample, is disclosed as a gift if the fair market value of the rental is $200 or more. The disclosure requires a description of the use of the garment (i.e. dress, jacket, jewelry, etc.) by (name of designer or store) to wear at (name of event).
  3. If Grégoire Trudeau returns any loaned/borrowed items with a value over $200 provided by a designer or company, the gift must first be publicly declared. Once the item is returned, the company is free to donate the garment to a charity of its choosing.
  4. Any item of clothing with a value of $200 or more given to Grégoire Trudeau must be publicly declared. The disclosure requires a description of the use of the garment (i.e. dress, jacket, jewelry, etc.) by (name of designer or store) to wear at (name of event).
  5. Any gift item over $1,000 needs to be disclosed and forfeited to the Crown unless Grégoire Trudeau purchases the item for the value over $1,000.
  6. Grégoire Trudeau has the option to donate a gift item directly to an organization or charity once the value of the item has been established and declared.
  7. In no situation would Grégoire Trudeau accept an item of clothing or other gift that would place the Prime Minister in a situation of conflict of interests, whether real or apparent.

Source: Prime Minister's Office