Pablo Rodriguez to seek Quebec Liberal leadership, resign from Trudeau cabinet

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.

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 Thursday in Gatineau.

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.

Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor also admitted to being “disappointed” to see Rodriguez leave.

The co-president of the next Liberal campaign, Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada, believes that the resigning minister was a “mentor in terms of political strategy”