Liberal leadership candidate Pablo Rodriguez receives several endorsements

Photo: Spencer Colby The Canadian Press In their letter, the activists emphasize that the party needs a leader who is “experienced, embodies liberal values ​​and knows how to win,” which they see in Pablo Rodriguez.

The Canadian Press

Published yesterday at 11:26 Updated yesterday at 11:58

• Quebec

Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) leadership candidate Pablo Rodriguez received several new endorsements Friday, including former ministers in the Couillard and Bourassa governments.

A letter of support, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press, is signed by forty people, including ministers Martin Coiteux, Luc Fortin and Robert Poëti, who worked in Philippe Couillard's government.

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Sam Elkas, former Minister of Public Safety and Transportation under Robert Bourassa, is also among the signatories.

Current Notre-Dame-de-Grâce MNA Desirée McGraw, who had already announced her support for Rodriguez, also signed the letter.

In their letter, the activists emphasize that the party needs a leader “who is experienced, embodies Liberal values ​​and knows how to win.”

They believe that leader is Pablo Rodriguez, who, they say, will follow in the footsteps of Jean Lesage, Lucien Bouchard and Jean Charest, former premiers who made careers in Ottawa before leading Quebec.

“In 2015, 2019 and 2021, Pablo Rodriguez led three election campaigns in Quebec and in each election, he delivered the highest number of votes and MNAs of any party. This achievement deserves to be highlighted,” they argue.

They also state that Mr. Rodriguez has enabled several advances for Quebec as a federal minister, including the Davie shipyard in Lévis, which was included in the National Shipbuilding Strategy in 2023.

“In 2026, Quebecers will have to make a choice. We have an important date with history. Pablo Rodriguez is the premier that Quebec needs,” they conclude.

The letter was also signed by several young Liberals who are members of the PLQ Youth Commission. The Liberals are meeting in Lévis this weekend to debate the weight of 16-25 year-olds in the choice of the new Liberal leader.

Rodriguez is facing several other candidates in the party leadership race, including Liberal MP Frédéric Beauchemin and former Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec CEO Charles Milliard — who also have support within the Liberal caucus.

The other two declared candidates, former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre and tax lawyer Marc Bélanger, still have no support within the caucus.

The leadership race officially begins in January 2025. The new party leader will be chosen in the summer of that year.