Pablo Rodriguez announces Quebec Liberal leadership run, resigns from Trudeau cabinet

Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez has announced his resignation from cabinet in order to seek the leadership of the Quebec Liberal party.

Rodriguez plans to sit as an independent member of Parliament until next January, saying that will avoid an expensive byelection so close to the next federal election.

Rodriguez says he doesn’t want an election right away and will vote against the non-confidence motion the Conservatives plan to introduce next week. 

As for how he would vote on other matters before the House of Commons, “it would depend on the votes.”

Treasury Board President Anita Anand will take on the additional role of transport minister while Jean Yves Duclos, Minister for Procurement, will take over as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec Lieutenant.

Anand thanked Rodriguez for his contributions to the government and the country, saying she’s grateful for his guidance and friendship. 

She sidestepped a question about the message it sends to have him leave the federal Liberal fold.

“That is a decision that he made independently, and I wish him well,” she said. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not present for the swearing-in ceremony, nor were any other members of the Liberal government. 

Anand said she is not actively seeking leadership of the party, saying she is focused on her roles as minister and as MP.

“My view is that we are a team, and we are a team that has to keep delivering for our country,” she said.

Rodriguez’s choice to step down is another blow for the Prime Minister, whose party is coming off the loss of the former Liberal stronghold of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun in a byelection in Montreal on Monday and amid renewed calls for Trudeau to step down and make way for a new leader. 

Anand said she is not actively seeking leadership of the party, saying she is focused on her roles as minister and as MP.

“My view is that we are a team, and we are a team that has to keep delivering for our country,” she said.

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

Rodriguez becomes the fifth candidate to enter the race to replace Anglade, joining former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, former president and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec Charles Milliard, tax lawyer Marc Bélanger and Liberal MNA Frédéric Beauchemin.

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.

The decision by Rodriguez comes as new polling data shows that the Prime Minister and his party are deeply unpopular in several major Canadian cities.

The survey, conducted by Maru Public Opinion for CityNews, found nearly one-third of residents in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver would support the party if Trudeau stepped down.