Defence Minister Peter MacKay and wife expecting 1st child

Defence Minister Peter Mackay and his wife, Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay, are expecting their first child.

MacKay's office confirmed the news Friday morning, but declined further comment. A message on Afshin-Jam's Facebook page said the baby is due "around spring time."

The couplemarried in Mexico on Jan. 4.

In an interview that month,MacKay told the CBC's George Stroumboulopoulosthat he was "really happy" butwants to keep his private life out of the spotlight.

Afshin-Jam MacKay, an Iranian-bornhuman rightsactivist, pop singer andformerMiss World runner-up, has not been shy of the media spotlight, however.

Shehas madeappearances recently to talk about her book, The Tale of Two Nazanins, which recounts her efforts to save a 17-year-old woman from execution in Iran, andhas spoken outagainst the ruling regimein her former homeland.