Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez to seek Quebec Liberal leadership

OTTAWA — Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez is expected to resign from cabinet to seek the leadership of the Quebec Liberal party.

A federal Liberal source who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed the news to The Canadian Press on Wednesday. It was first reported by La Presse.

Rodriguez, who is also Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant, is expected to formally announce his decision on Thursday.

The Quebec Liberals have been without a leader since Dominique Anglade resigned following her defeat in the 2022 provincial election.

Rodriguez’s choice to step down will be another blow for Trudeau, whose party is coming off the loss of the former Liberal stronghold of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun in a byelection in Montreal on Monday.

His colleagues spoke about his impact on Canadian and Quebec politics on Wednesday while defending the election loss and shifting the blame away from Rodriguez.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, when asked how Rodriguez is a good option for the provincial party after the byelection loss, said “it’s a very different environment.”

“Clearly, this is much bigger than any single individual, and Pablo has been serving Canada, has been serving the interest of the nation, has been lieutenant,” he said.

“I’ll let him make his choice.”

Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said his party is “obviously very grateful” for the work Rodriguez has done for the country and Quebec, and that his departure “leaves a hole.”

“He is a very important man for our cabinet and our caucus, but there (are) a lot of other MPs and ministers that stay behind and will keep fighting for the interests of Quebecers and Canadians.”

Rogriguez was previously the minister of Canadian Heritage, and was first elected in 2004. He was defeated in 2011 before winning back his seat in 2015.

He is scheduled to speak to reporters in Gatineau, Que., Thursday morning about his “political future.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.

Alessia Passafiume and Émilie Bergeron, The Canadian Press