Photo: Patrick Doyle The Canadian Press Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez during Question Period in the House of Commons on June 12 in Ottawa
Maura Forrest – The Canadian Press
Published at 7:33 p.m.
- Quebec
A spokesperson for federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said he is receiving “a lot of requests” to join the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
But Rodriguez, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant, has not confirmed whether he will seek the leadership of the provincial party.
Questions about Rodriguez’s possible candidacy for the PLQ leadership surfaced following a story in the daily newspaper La Presse on Sunday that said the minister is considering entering the race.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Jacques Martineau, Rodriguez’s communications director, said the minister is “sincerely touched by the many requests he has received” to make the big leap into provincial politics.
A source familiar with the PLQ leadership race says the minister is seriously considering a run for the party. The source declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
However, the person expressed doubts about whether Rodriguez is the right person for the job, in part because he carries the baggage of nine years in the federal Liberal government.
The PLQ did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The party will choose its new leader in June 2025. Former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is the only official candidate in the running so far.
The president and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Charles Milliard, and the provincial MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Frédéric Beauchemin, could also enter the race.
Leadership candidates have until next April to submit their candidacies for the election of a new leader.
Mr. Rodriguez began his political career in Quebec, where he was a member of the PLQ’s youth wing in the 1990s. He was a Liberal MNA from 2004 to 2011, and again since 2015.
He has been a minister since 2018 and also serves as an advisor and key spokesperson on Quebec issues.