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Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)

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The Honourable
Pablo Rodriguez
PC MP
Rodriguez in 2023
Minister of Transport
In office
July 26, 2023 – September 19, 2024
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byOmar Alghabra
Succeeded byAnita Anand
Minister of Canadian Heritage
(Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; 2018–2019)
In office
October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded bySteven Guilbeault
Succeeded byPascale St-Onge
In office
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019
Preceded byMélanie Joly
Succeeded bySteven Guilbeault (Canadian Heritage)
Marco Mendicino (Multiculturalism)
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
In office
November 20, 2019 – October 26, 2021
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBardish Chagger
Succeeded byMark Holland
Chief Government Whip
In office
January 30, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byAndrew Leslie
Succeeded byMark Holland
Member of Parliament
for Honoré-Mercier
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byPaulina Ayala
In office
June 28, 2004 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byYvon Charbonneau
Succeeded byPaulina Ayala
Personal details
Born (1967-06-21) June 21, 1967 (age 57)
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Nationality
  • Canadian
  • Argentine
[1]
Political partyIndependent (since 2024)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseRoxane Hardy
Residence(s)Notre-Dame-de-Grâce,[2] Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Sherbrooke (BBA)
ProfessionCommunication consultant

Pablo Rodriguez PC MP (born June 21, 1967) is a Canadian-Argentine politician. He previously served as Canada's minister of Transport from 2023 to 2024,[3] minister of Canadian Heritage (Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; 2018–2019), the Government Chief Whip, and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.[4] Additionally, he was his party's Quebec lieutenant from 2019 until 2024.[5] He represents Honoré-Mercier in the House of Commons as an Independent.

Rodriguez resigned from cabinet and the federal Liberal caucus on September 19, 2024, in order to run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party. He will continue to sit in the House of Commons as an Independent until the Quebec Liberal leadership campaign period starts in January 2025.[6]

Early life and career

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Rodriguez was born on June 21, 1967, in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.[7] When he was eight, Rodriguez's family fled to Canada after their home was bombed during the Dirty War, and his father was repeatedly jailed and tortured for his activism.[8]

Prior to entering politics, Rodriguez, who has a degree in business administration from the University of Sherbrooke, worked in public affairs and international development for a Montreal-based NGO.[3]

He was the Vice President of Oxfam Québec from 2000 to 2004.[9]

Federal politics

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Opposition MP

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Rodriguez was elected as a Liberal to the House of Commons of Canada for the Quebec riding of Honoré-Mercier in 2004, 2006 and 2008. For most of his first stint in Parliament, he was the only Liberal representing a riding in eastern Montreal, a longstanding stronghold for the Bloc Québecois.

Rodriguez was chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, the Official Opposition’s Critic for of the Francophonie and Official Languages, and Critic for Public Works and Government Services Canada. He has served on many committees of the House of Commons, including the Committee of Canadian Heritage, Official Languages and the Public Accounts Committee.

On February 14, 2007, a bill Rodriguez put forward was passed by the Commons that would give the Conservative government 60 days to come up with a plan to respect Canada's engagements under the Kyoto Protocol.[clarification needed]

He is the Past President of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party of Canada.[citation needed]

He was the Quebec Chair of Michael Ignatieff's candidacy in the 2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election.[citation needed]

Criminal charge

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On April 16, 2010, Rodriguez was charged under the Criminal Code of Canada, after he collided his BMW with a parked car in Montreal.[10] Police attending the crash reported Rodriguez had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, and during attempts to administer a breathalyzer test, Rodriguez "breathed very weakly and cut his breath repeatedly, all the while holding the plastic tip at the edge of his lips".[11]

According to Rodriguez himself, "Because I'd consumed a moderate amount of wine during the previous supper, the police officer asked me to proceed with a breathalyzer test, using a hand-held machine, which I did without hesitation".[12]

Despite the criminal charge, Rodriguez remained in the Liberal caucus.[13]

In the 2011 election he was defeated by the New Democratic Party's Paulina Ayala amid the NDP's surge in Quebec.

In government

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Rodriguez sought a rematch with Ayala in the 2015 election. Amid a Liberal surge almost as large as the NDP's surge four years earlier, he defeated Ayala to return to Parliament.

42nd Canadian Parliament

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Rodriguez served as Chief Government Whip for a year and a half from January 30, 2017.

Rodriguez served in the 42nd Canadian Parliament as the Minister of Canadian Heritage from July 18, 2018 until dissolution of that government on November 20, 2019. One of his signature initiatives at Heritage was the expansion of the Canada Periodical Fund from magazine-format monthlies to daily broadsheets. This was announced in Bill Morneau's November 21, 2018 "fiscal update" as a $600-million slush fund over five years.[14][15] The measure was widely applauded in the press "by an eclectic group of media outlets, including Postmedia, which owns the National Post, Torstar, which publishes the Toronto Star, SaltWire Network, and the CBC among others."[16]

43rd Canadian Parliament

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Rodriguez was re-elected in the 2019 federal election.

From formation on November 20, 2019 until dissolution, Rodriguez served as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

44th Canadian Parliament

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After the 2021 election, Rodriguez was re-appointed as Minister of Canadian Heritage on October 26, 2021.

He introduced C-18 An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.[17] It received Royal Assent on June 22, 2023. The bill, which would force tech giants to compensate news organizations. Both Google and Meta announced their exits. The Government has dismissed the complaints of the tech giants will have to pay exorbitant amounts of money and would face uncapped liability based on how many links are posted.[18]

On July 26, 2023, Rodriguez was appointed Minister of Transport.[19]

Switch to provincial politics

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After weeks of speculation,[20] Rodriguez announced on September 19, 2024 that he was resigning from the federal cabinet in order to run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party, and would resign from the Liberal caucus to sit as an independent in order to have the flexibility to run his campaign as he saw fit.[6] Rodriguez will sit as an independent MP until officially entering the race and resigning his seat in January 2025.[6]

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 29,033 60.0 +1.3 $39,670.10
Bloc Québécois Charlotte Lévesque-Marin 7,908 16.3 -3.5 $3,008.90
Conservative Guy Croteau 5,086 10.5 +0.9 $2,893.59
New Democratic Paulina Ayala 3,537 7.3 -0.9 $433.46
People's Lucilia Miranda 2,023 4.2 +3.3 $508.19
Green Bianca Deltorto-Russell 734 1.5 -1.2 $0.00
Marxist–Leninist Yves Le Seigle 88 0.2 +0.1 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,409 98.0 – $109,578.67
Total rejected ballots 971 2.0
Turnout 49,380 64.1
Registered voters 77,078
Liberal hold Swing +2.4
Source: Elections Canada[21]
2019 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 29,543 58.66 +2.11 $45,514.73
Bloc Québécois Jacques Binette 9,979 19.81 +6.88 $7,951.83
Conservative Guy Croteau 4,808 9.55 -2.5 $3,314.94
New Democratic Chu Anh Pham 4,130 8.2 -8.21 none listed
Green Domenico Cusmano 1,373 2.73 +1.15 none listed
People's Patrick St-Onge 459 0.91 – $2,885.14
Marxist–Leninist Yves Le Seigle 71 0.14 -0.02 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 50,363 100.0
Total rejected ballots 1,013
Turnout 51,376 65.4
Eligible voters 78,549
Liberal hold Swing -2.39
Source: Elections Canada[22][23]
2015 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodriguez 29,211 56.55 +23.5 $53,622.10
New Democratic Paulina Ayala 8,478 16.41 -18.81 $12,795.65
Bloc Québécois Audrey Beauséjour 6,680 12.93 -3.07 $11,516.20
Conservative Guy Croteau 6,226 12.05 -0.96 $3,697.33
Green Angela Budilean 814 1.58 -0.03 –
Strength in Democracy Dayana Dejean 168 0.33 – –
Marxist–Leninist Yves Le Seigle 81 0.16 -0.19 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 51,658 100.0     $213,214.66
Total rejected ballots 682 – –
Turnout 52,340 – –
Eligible voters 78,428
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +17.11
Source: Elections Canada[24][25]
2011 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Paulina Ayala 17,545 36.37 +26.26
Liberal Pablo Rodriguez 14,641 30.35 -13.32
Bloc Québécois Martin Laroche 8,935 18.52 -9.60
Conservative Gérard Labelle 5,992 12.42 -2.88
Green Gaëtan Bérard 770 1.60 -1.20
Rhinoceros Valery Chevrefils-Latulippe 181 0.38 –
Marxist–Leninist Jean-Paul Bédard 170 0.35 –
Total valid votes 48,234 100.00
Total rejected ballots 622 1.27 -0.06
Turnout 48,856 59.98 -2.18
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +19.79
2008 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 21,544 43.67 +5.44 $64,461
Bloc Québécois Gérard Labelle 13,871 28.12 −6.71 $57,274
Conservative Rodrigo Alfaro 7,549 15.30 −2.14 $35,152
New Democratic François Pilon 4,986 10.11 +3.89 $1,499
Green Gaëtan Bérard 1,380 2.80 −0.13 $1,387
Total valid votes 49,330 100.00
Total rejected ballots 667 1.33
Turnout 49,997 62.16 −2.71
Electors on the lists 80,429
Liberal hold Swing +6.08
Source: Official Voting Results, 40th General Election 2008, Elections Canada.
2006 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 19,622 38.23 −7.87 $62,095
Bloc Québécois Gérard Labelle 17,879 34.83 −5.54 $39,105
Conservative Angelo M. Marino 8,952 17.44 +11.42 $62,813
New Democratic François Pilon 3,191 6.22 +2.13 $2,374
Green Sylvain Castonguay 1,502 2.93 +1.16 not listed
Marxist–Leninist Hélène Héroux 183 0.36 +0.02 none listed
Total valid votes 51,329 100.00
Total rejected ballots 650 1.25
Turnout 51,979 64.87 +3.23
Electors on the lists 80,122
Liberal hold Swing -1.17
Source: Official Voting Results, 39th General Election, Elections Canada.
2004 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 22,223 46.10 −11.76 $78,649
Bloc Québécois Éric St-Hilaire 19,461 40.37 +10.02 $13,063
Conservative Gianni Chiazzese 2,902 6.02 −2.28 $5,060
New Democratic François Pilon 1,973 4.09 +2.81 $885
Green Richard Lahaie 852 1.77 – $0
Marijuana Steve Boudrias 626 1.30 −0.59 none listed
Marxist–Leninist Hélène Héroux 164 0.34 +0.03 none listed
Total valid votes 48,201 100.00
Total rejected ballots 854 1.74
Turnout 49,055 61.64
Electors on the lists 79,585
Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.
Source: Official Voting Results, Thirty-Eighth General Election, Elections Canada.
Liberal hold Swing -10.89

References

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  1. ^ "Dion among a dozen MPs with dual citizenships". CBC News. December 8, 2006. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez". Prime Minister of Canada. July 17, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Wright Allen, Samantha (July 25, 2018). "Rodriguez, Tassi staying as government whips for now, changes expected soon". The Hill Times. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  5. ^ "Trudeau's new cabinet: The full list, the breakdown by region and more". The Globe and Mail. November 20, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Pablo Rodriguez to sit as Independent while seeking Quebec Liberal leadership". CBC News. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "RODRIGUEZ, The Hon. Pablo, P.C., B.A.A." Library of Parliament.
  8. ^ Press, Jordan (November 18, 2016). "Trudeau's emotional visit to Argentine memorial renews focus on human rights". CTVNews. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "Pablo Rodriguez". LinkedIn. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  10. ^ "Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez charged after breathalyzer incident". May 14, 2010.
  11. ^ "Pablo Rodriguez had booze on his breath after crash: police". June 8, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Liberal MP charged after breathalyzer incident". May 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "Liberal MP charged in breathalyzer incident". The Globe and Mail. May 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Highlights of Bill Morneau's 2018 fiscal update". CBC. November 21, 2018.
  15. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (May 22, 2019). "Federal government names organizations that will help spend $600M journalism fund". CBC.
  16. ^ Thompson, Stuart (February 19, 2019). "'The news industry is in trouble': Canadian media outlets team up to demand tax and regulatory changes". National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
  17. ^ https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18 [bare URL]
  18. ^ https://financialpost.com/technology/rodriguez-plans-to-provide-clarity-on-bill-c-18-amid-standoff-with-meta-and-google [bare URL]
  19. ^ "Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry". July 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "Opinion: Quebec Liberals have reason to hope as Pablo Rodriguez mulls leadership bid". The Globe and Mail. August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Confirmed candidates — Honoré-Mercier". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  22. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  24. ^ Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Canada, Elections. "Elections Canada Online | Preliminary Candidates Election Expenses Limits". www.elections.ca. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
[edit]
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Mélanie Joly Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019 		Steven Guilbeault
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