Pablo Rodriguez to seek Quebec Liberal leadership, resign from Trudeau cabinet
Global News
Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez will resign from his cabinet post this week to focus on his run for leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
The federal Liberals’ political lieutenant for Quebec, Pablo Rodriguez , will run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ). He is to make the announcement on Thursday in Gatineau.
The man who is also federal transport minister will resign from his cabinet post this week to focus on leadership.
The Minister of Procurement and MNA for the Quebec riding, Jean-Yves Duclos, could not hide the fact that Rodriguez ‘s departure creates a “void.” The news also comes just after a crushing defeat for the Liberals, who saw the Bloc Québécois snatch the seat of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun from them in a by-election.
“Whether it’s today, tomorrow or the day before yesterday, it doesn’t really matter,” said Duclos. “The fact is that he leaves a magnificent legacy for the Quebec region, an extraordinary support for the actors in my riding.”
According to him, Rodriguez ‘s decision had been made “some time ago” and was “well thought through”.
The president of the Quebec caucus of the federal Liberals, Stéphane Lauzon, echoed the same sentiment.
The MP nevertheless expressed his disappointment, shared by other Liberal elected officials who spoke to journalists on their way to their weekly caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
“It’s definitely a big loss for the Quebec caucus,” said Lauzon, who represents voters in Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, in Outaouais.
