Pablo Rodríguez (Canadian politician)

Pablo Rodríguez PC MP (born June 21, 1967) is an Argentine 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]

Pablo Rodríguez

PC MP
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
San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Roxane Hardy
ResidenceMontreal, Quebec, Canada
ProfessionCommunication consultant

Early life and career

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.

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

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.

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. He was re-elected in the 2019 federal election.

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.

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodríguez29,54358.66+2.11
Bloc QuébécoisJacques Binette9,97919.81+6.88
ConservativeGuy Croteau4,8089.55-2.5
New DemocraticChu Anh Pham4,1308.2-8.21
GreenDomenico Cusmano1,3732.73+1.15
People'sPatrick St-Onge4590.91–
Marxist–LeninistYves Le Seigle710.14-0.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit 50,363100.0
Total rejected ballots 1,013
Turnout 51,37665.4
Eligible voters 78,549
Source: Elections Canada[5][6]
2015 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPablo Rodríguez29,21156.55+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[7][8]
2011 Canadian federal election: Honoré-Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticPaulina Ayala17,54536.37+26.26
LiberalPablo Rodríguez14,64130.35-13.32
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 +2.33
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

References
  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
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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