Pablo Rodríguez (Canadian politician)

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The Honourable

Pablo Rodríguez

PC MP
IC Pablo Rodriguez.JPG
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Assumed office
November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBardish Chagger
Minister of Canadian Heritage
In office
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byMélanie Joly
Succeeded bySteven Guilbeault
Chief Government Whip
In office
January 30, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byAndrew Leslie
Succeeded byMark Holland
Member of the Canadian 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 (1967-06-21) June 21, 1967 (age 53)
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Roxane Hardy
ResidenceMontreal, Quebec, Canada
ProfessionCommunication consultant

Pablo Rodríguez PC MP (born June 21, 1967) is a Canadian politician who currently serves as a Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Honoré-Mercier. Since November 20, 2019, Rodríguez has served as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. Rodríguez previously served as the Minister of Canadian Heritage.[1]

Early life and career[edit]

Rodríguez was born on June 21, 1967 in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.[2] When he was eight, Rodríguez's family fled to Canada after their home was bombed during the Dirty War after his father was repeatedly jailed and tortured for his activism.[3]

Prior to entering politics, Rodríguez, 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.[citation needed]

Throughout his career, Rodríguez 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.[4]

Federal politics[edit]

Rodríguez 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.

Rodríguez 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 Rodríguez 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.[clarification needed]

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. Rodríguez sought a rematch 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.

Electoral record[edit]

2019 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 29,543 58.66 +2.11
Bloc Québécois Jacques Binette 9,979 19.81 +6.88
Conservative Guy Croteau 4,808 9.55 -2.5
New Democratic Chu Anh Pham 4,130 8.2 -8.21
Green Domenico Cusmano 1,373 2.73 +1.15
People's Patrick St-Onge 459 0.91 –
Marxist–Leninist Yves Le Seigle 71 0.14 -0.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit 50,363 100.0
Total rejected ballots 1,013
Turnout 51,376 65.4
Eligible voters 78,549
Source: Elections Canada[5][6]
2015 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 29,211 56.55 +23.5 $53,622.10
New Democratic Paulina Ayala 8,478 16.41 -18.81 $12,795.65
Bloc Québécois Audrey Beauséjour 6,680 12.93 -3.07 $11,516.20
Conservative Guy Croteau 6,226 12.05 -0.96 $3,697.33
Green Angela Budilean 814 1.58 -0.03 –
Strength in Democracy Dayana Dejean 168 0.33 – –
Marxist–Leninist Yves Le Seigle 81 0.16 -0.19 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 51,658 100.0     $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[7][8]
2011 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Paulina Ayala 17,545 36.37 +26.26
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 14,641 30.35 -13.32
Bloc Québécois Martin Laroche 8,935 18.52 -9.60
Conservative Gérard Labelle 5,992 12.42 -2.88
Green Gaëtan Bérard 770 1.60 -1.20
Rhinoceros Valery Chevrefils-Latulippe 181 0.38 –
Marxist–Leninist Jean-Paul Bédard 170 0.35 –
Total valid votes 48,234 100.00
Total rejected ballots 622 1.27 -0.06
Turnout 48,856 59.98 -2.18
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +19.79


2008 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 21,544 43.67 +5.44 $64,461
Bloc Québécois Gérard Labelle 13,871 28.12 −6.71 $57,274
Conservative Rodrigo Alfaro 7,549 15.30 −2.14 $35,152
New Democratic François Pilon 4,986 10.11 +3.89 $1,499
Green Gaëtan Bérard 1,380 2.80 −0.13 $1,387
Total valid votes 49,330 100.00
Total rejected ballots 667 1.33
Turnout 49,997 62.16 −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
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 19,622 38.23 −7.87 $62,095
Bloc Québécois Gérard Labelle 17,879 34.83 −5.54 $39,105
Conservative Angelo M. Marino 8,952 17.44 +11.42 $62,813
New Democratic François Pilon 3,191 6.22 +2.13 $2,374
Green Sylvain Castonguay 1,502 2.93 +1.16 not listed
Marxist–Leninist Hélène Héroux 183 0.36 +0.02 none 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 +2.33
Source: Official Voting Results, 39th General Election, Elections Canada.
2004 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Pablo Rodríguez 22,223 46.10 −11.76 $78,649
Bloc Québécois Éric St-Hilaire 19,461 40.37 +10.02 $13,063
Conservative Gianni Chiazzese 2,902 6.02 −2.28 $5,060
New Democratic François Pilon 1,973 4.09 +2.81 $885
Green Richard Lahaie 852 1.77 – $0
Marijuana Steve Boudrias 626 1.30 −0.59 none listed
Marxist–Leninist Hélène Héroux 164 0.34 +0.03 none listed
Total valid votes 48,201 100.00
Total rejected ballots 854 1.74
Turnout 49,055 61.64
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


References[edit]

  1. ^ Wright Allen, Samantha (July 25, 2018). "Rodriguez, Tassi staying as government whips for now, changes expected soon". The Hill Times. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  2. ^ "RODRIGUEZ, The Hon. Pablo, P.C., B.A.A." Library of Parliament.
  3. ^ Press, Jordan (November 18, 2016). "Trudeau's emotional visit to Argentine memorial renews focus on human rights". CTVNews. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "Pablo Rodriguez". LinkedIn. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Honoré-Mercier, 30 September 2015
  8. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]

29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Mélanie Joly Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019 		Steven Guilbeault
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