Pablo_Rodriguez_(Canadian_politician)

Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)

Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)

Canadian politician (born 1967)

Juan Pablo Rodríguez[2] PC MP (born June 21, 1967) is a Canadian politician of Argentine heritage who has served as Canada's Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant since 2023.[3] A member of the Liberal Party, he represents Honoré-Mercier in the House of Commons. Rodriguez previously served as Minister of Canadian Heritage (Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism; 2018–2019), the Government Chief Whip, and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.[4]

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Early life and career

Rodriguez was born on June 21, 1967, in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.[5] 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.[6]

Prior to entering politics, Rodriguez, who has a degree in business administration from the University of Sherbrooke, worked in public affairs and international development for a Montreal-based NGO.[3]

He was the Vice President of Oxfam Québec from 2000 to 2004.[7]

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.[clarification needed]

He is the Past President of the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party of Canada.[citation needed]

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

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.

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.[8][9] 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."[10]

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.

He introduced C-18 An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.[11] It received Royal Assent on June 22, 2023. The bill, which would force tech giants to compensate news organizations. Both Google and Meta announced their exits. The Government has dismissed the complaints of the tech giants will have to pay exorbitant amounts of money and would face uncapped liability based on how many links are posted.[12]

On July 26, 2023, Rodriguez was appointed Minister of Transport.[13]

Electoral record

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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.[19] 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".[20]

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".[21]

Despite the criminal charge, Rodriguez remained in the Liberal caucus.[22]

References

  1. [1]
    "Dion among a dozen MPs with dual citizenships". CBC News. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  3. [3]
    "The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez". Prime Minister of Canada. 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. [4]
    Wright Allen, Samantha (July 25, 2018). "Rodriguez, Tassi staying as government whips for now, changes expected soon". The Hill Times. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  5. [5]
    "RODRIGUEZ, The Hon. Pablo, P.C., B.A.A." Library of Parliament.
  6. [6]
    Press, Jordan (November 18, 2016). "Trudeau's emotional visit to Argentine memorial renews focus on human rights". CTVNews. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Pablo Rodriguez". LinkedIn. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "Highlights of Bill Morneau's 2018 fiscal update". CBC. 21 November 2018.
  9. [9]
    Zimonjic, Peter (22 May 2019). "Federal government names organizations that will help spend $600M journalism fund". CBC.
  10. [10]
    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.
  11. [11]
    https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-18
  12. [12]
    https://financialpost.com/technology/rodriguez-plans-to-provide-clarity-on-bill-c-18-amid-standoff-with-meta-and-google
  13. [13]
    https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry
  14. [14]
    "Confirmed candidates — Honoré-Mercier". Elections Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  15. [15]
    "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  16. [16]
    "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  17. [17]
    Canada, Elections. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  18. [18]
    Canada, Elections. "Elections Canada Online | Preliminary Candidates Election Expenses Limits". www.elections.ca. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  19. [19]
    "Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez charged after breathalyzer incident". 14 May 2010.
  20. [20]
    "Pablo Rodriguez had booze on his breath after crash: police". 8 June 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  21. [21]
    "Liberal MP charged after breathalyzer incident". 14 May 2010.
  22. [22]
    "Liberal MP charged in breathalyzer incident". The Globe and Mail. 14 May 2010.
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