Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)

Juan Pablo Rodríguez[2] PC MP (born June 21, 1967) is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of Canadian heritage since 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, he represents Honoré-Mercier in the House of Commons. Rodriguez previously served as the Government Chief Whip, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.[3]

The Honourable
Pablo Rodriguez
PC MP
Rodriguez in 2007
Minister of Canadian Heritage
(Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; 2018–2019)
Assumed office
October 26, 2021
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded bySteven Guilbeault
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
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
Juan Pablo Rodríguez

(1967-06-21) June 21, 1967
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Nationality
  • Canadian
  • Argentine
[1]
Political partyLiberal
SpouseRoxane Hardy
Residence(s)Notre-Dame-de-Grâce,[2] Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Sherbrooke (BBA)
ProfessionCommunication consultant

Early life and career

Rodriguez was born on June 21, 1967, in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.[4] When he was eight, Rodriguez's family fled to Canada after their home was bombed during the Dirty War as his father was repeatedly jailed and tortured for his activism.[5]

Prior to entering politics, Rodriguez, who has a degree in business administration from the University of Sherbrooke, had worked for over twelve years in the fields of public affairs and management of international projects.

Throughout his career, Rodriguez has dedicated much of his time to humanitarian causes. His work particularly focused on helping developing countries and the eradication of poverty. He was the Vice President of Oxfam Québec from 2000 to 2004.[6]

Federal politics

Opposition MP

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.

He is the Past President of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party of Canada.

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

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

In government

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 as one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's MPs.

42nd Canadian Parliament

Rodriguez served as Chief Government Whip for a year and a half from 30 January 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 21 November 2018 "fiscal update" as a $600-million slush fund over five years.[7][8] 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."[9]

43rd Canadian Parliament

Rodriguez was re-elected in the 2019 federal election.

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

44th Canadian Parliament

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

Electoral record
2021 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodríguez29,03360.0+1.3
Bloc QuébécoisCharlotte Lévesque-Marin7,90816.3-3.5
ConservativeGuy Croteau5,08610.5+0.9
New DemocraticPaulina Ayala3,5377.3-0.9
People'sLucilia Miranda2,0234.2+3.3
GreenBianca Deltorto-Russell7341.5-1.2
Marxist–LeninistYves Le Seigle880.2+0.1
Total valid votes 48,40998.0
Total rejected ballots 9712.0
Turnout 49,38064.1
Registered voters 77,078
Liberal hold Swing +2.4
Source: Elections Canada[10]
2019 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodríguez29,54358.66+2.11$45,514.73
Bloc QuébécoisJacques Binette9,97919.81+6.88$7,951.83
ConservativeGuy Croteau4,8089.55-2.5$3,314.94
New DemocraticChu Anh Pham4,1308.2-8.21none listed
GreenDomenico Cusmano1,3732.73+1.15none listed
People'sPatrick St-Onge4590.91–$2,885.14
Marxist–LeninistYves Le Seigle710.14-0.02$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 50,363100.0
Total rejected ballots 1,013
Turnout 51,37665.4
Eligible voters 78,549
Liberal hold Swing -2.39
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]
2015 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodriguez29,21156.55+23.5$53,622.10
New DemocraticPaulina Ayala8,47816.41-18.81$12,795.65
Bloc QuébécoisAudrey Beauséjour6,68012.93-3.07$11,516.20
ConservativeGuy Croteau6,22612.05-0.96$3,697.33
GreenAngela Budilean8141.58-0.03–
Strength in DemocracyDayana Dejean1680.33––
Marxist–LeninistYves Le Seigle810.16-0.19–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 51,658100.0   $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[13][14]
2011 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticPaulina Ayala17,54536.37+26.26
LiberalPablo Rodriguez14,64130.35-13.32
Bloc QuébécoisMartin Laroche8,93518.52-9.60
ConservativeGérard Labelle5,99212.42-2.88
GreenGaëtan Bérard7701.60-1.20
RhinocerosValery Chevrefils-Latulippe1810.38–
Marxist–LeninistJean-Paul Bédard1700.35–
Total valid votes 48,234100.00
Total rejected ballots 6221.27 -0.06
Turnout 48,85659.98-2.18
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +19.79
2008 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodríguez21,54443.67+5.44$64,461
Bloc QuébécoisGérard Labelle13,87128.12−6.71$57,274
ConservativeRodrigo Alfaro7,54915.30−2.14$35,152
New DemocraticFrançois Pilon4,98610.11+3.89$1,499
GreenGaëtan Bérard1,3802.80−0.13$1,387
Total valid votes 49,330100.00
Total rejected ballots 6671.33
Turnout 49,99762.16−2.71
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
LiberalPablo Rodríguez19,62238.23−7.87$62,095
Bloc QuébécoisGérard Labelle17,87934.83−5.54$39,105
ConservativeAngelo M. Marino8,95217.44+11.42$62,813
New DemocraticFrançois Pilon3,1916.22+2.13$2,374
GreenSylvain Castonguay1,5022.93+1.16not listed
Marxist–LeninistHélène Héroux1830.36+0.02none 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
LiberalPablo Rodríguez22,22346.10−11.76$78,649
Bloc QuébécoisÉric St-Hilaire19,46140.37+10.02$13,063
ConservativeGianni Chiazzese2,9026.02−2.28$5,060
New DemocraticFrançois Pilon1,9734.09+2.81$885
GreenRichard Lahaie8521.77–$0
MarijuanaSteve Boudrias6261.30−0.59none listed
Marxist–LeninistHélène Héroux1640.34+0.03none listed
Total valid votes 48,201100.00
Total rejected ballots 8541.74
Turnout 49,05561.64
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

Criminal charge

On April 16, 2010, Rodriguez was charged under the Criminal Code of Canada, after he collided his BMW with a parked car in Montreal.[15] 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".[16]

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".[17]

Despite the criminal charge, Rodriguez remained in the Liberal caucus.[18]

References
  1. "Dion among a dozen MPs with dual citizenships". CBC News. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  3. Wright Allen, Samantha (July 25, 2018). "Rodriguez, Tassi staying as government whips for now, changes expected soon". The Hill Times. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  4. "RODRIGUEZ, The Hon. Pablo, P.C., B.A.A." Library of Parliament.
  5. Press, Jordan (November 18, 2016). "Trudeau's emotional visit to Argentine memorial renews focus on human rights". CTVNews. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  6. "Pablo Rodriguez". LinkedIn. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  7. "Highlights of Bill Morneau's 2018 fiscal update". CBC. 21 November 2018.
  8. Zimonjic, Peter (22 May 2019). "Federal government names organizations that will help spend $600M journalism fund". CBC.
  9. Thompson, Stuart (19 February 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.
  10. "Confirmed candidates — Honoré-Mercier". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  11. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  12. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  13. Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  14. Canada, Elections. "Archived copy". www.elections.ca. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez charged after breathalyzer incident". 14 May 2010.
  16. "Pablo Rodriguez had booze on his breath after crash: police". 8 June 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  17. "Liberal MP charged after breathalyzer incident". 14 May 2010.
  18. "Liberal MP charged in breathalyzer incident". The Globe and Mail. 14 May 2010.
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