the United States, and it's a defined role," she told Carlson. "I'm the wife of the Prime Minister - there's no First Lady in Canada . . . {The Prime Minister's wife) can have a big role, a small role, whatever."

So far, Laureen has done exactly that. She has defined her own role and has chosen to play it safe. It is a carefully crafted role and it has been shrewdly executed. This prime minister's wife has not stirred things up or rocked the boat. Nor has she uttered anything that has been deemed extremely candid or remotely controversial - unless you count the 2008 incident in which she informed the National Arts Centre in Ottawa that she would be unable to fulfill her role as honorary galachair. This occurred the day after Stephen Harper remarked that events such as fundraising galas don't resonate with "ordinary people."

More worldly and well-travelled than her husband, Laureen Harper has displayed a fondness for motorcycle riding and a penchant for rescuing stray cats. Prior to becoming the wife of Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, she worked hard to establish herself as both a talented graphic artist and a successful businesswoman. She is also an active volunteer with such charitable causes as the CIBC Run for the Cure and the Ottawa Humane Society. In September of 2006, she participated in a fundraiser for the CanWest Raise-a-Reader Day literacy program just after the Harper government had cut $17.7 million from the human resources department's Adult Learning and Literacy Skills Program.

Laureen will talk