Pablo Rodriguez to sit as Independent while seeking Quebec Liberal leadership

Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez announcedhis resignation from cabinet on Thursday and said hewillsit as an Independent until the launch of the Quebec Liberal Party leadership race next year.

At a news conference in Gatineau, Que., the former transport ministersaid he is staying on as a member of Parliamentuntil Januaryto avoid a costly byelectionweeks, orpossibly months, before a general election.

The first phase ofthe Quebec Liberal leadership race begins on Jan. 13, 2025.

No byelection iscalled within nine months of a fixed date general election, according to the Parliament of Canada Act.

"My priorities can no longer be those of a government that I have always served as a good team player," Rodriguez told reporters, adding that he wants to set his own priorities and advance a vision for a "fairer, more humane, more united Quebec."

"I am certain that Franois Legault's Quebec with its divisive politics doesn't resemble Quebecers and doesn't uniteQuebecers," he added.

WATCH | Trudeau shuffles cabinet to replace Rodriguez:

Trudeau shuffles cabinet as Pablo Rodriguez quits to sit as independent

26 days ago

Duration 2:04

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet after Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez resigned to sit as an Independent, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced his party will back the government in the Conservative-led non-confidence vote next week.

His departure from cabinet comes nearly two months after Seamus O'Regan, the former labour and seniors minister, stepped down.

Rodriguez's deep ties to the federal Liberal Party span more than 20 years.

He was first elected with the party in 2004 as the MP for Honor-Mercier, in Montreal's east end, and re-elected in the same riding in 2006 and 2008. After being defeated by the NDP's Paulina Ayalain 2011, he was re-elected in 2015 and in the last two elections.

Anand, Duclos to take on portfolios

A staunch Liberal, Rodriguez was sworn in as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Quebec lieutenant and government House leaderin 2019.

On Thursday afternoon, Public Services Minister Jean-YvesDuclosconfirmed he would replace Rodriguez asQuebec lieutenant.

"I intend to honour this trust and take on these immense responsibilities in the best interests of Quebecers, no matter where they live or where they come from," Duclos said in a media statement.

President of the Treasury BoardAnita Anandwas sworn inas transport minister on Thursday.

"We know that for an economy to function efficiently, we need a transportation system that functions well too and that is my priority in this role," she told reporters following the ceremony.

WATCH | Anita Anand thanks Pablo Rodriguez for his service:

Anand thanks outgoing transport minister for his work

26 days ago

Duration 0:58

President of the Treasury Board and new minister of transport Anita Anand thanked former transport minister Pablo Rodriguez for his parliamentary work and confirmed he made the decision independently to step down from the cabinet position.

In response to Quebec Premier Franois Legault's recent attempt to rally support against the Trudeau government, Rodriguez confirmed he would be voting against a Conservative non-confidence motion set to be tabled next week.

On Thursday, Legault called on Parti Qubcois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to show some "courage" and ask Bloc Leader Yves-Franois Blanchetnot to back the Trudeau government and to "defend theinterests of the Quebec nation."

"To my surprise, Mr. Legault is pushing the Bloc Qubcois to defeat the government," Rodriguez said. "My message to Mr. Legault is if he wants to do federal politics, he should come to Ottawa."

He accusedConservative Leader PierrePoilievreof indulging in "partisan politics" and said Canadians don't want an election right now.

Blanchet repeated Thursday what he said the day before: his caucus will vote againstthe non-confidence motion becausethe result would amount to swapping Trudeau for Poilievre.

"I'm not a Conservative. Conservative values are not Quebec values," Blanchet said on Wednesday.

As for Rodriguez leaving cabinet, Blanchetdismissed the suggestion that having one fewer Quebec cabinet minister would affect the province's interests.

"A Quebec minister in a Liberal government takes his orders from the majority that is Canadian, and he quickly realizes that he has little power," Blanchet said Thursday.

"Mr. Rodriguez has already given us an example," Blanchetadded, referring to the former Liberal MP saying Thursday morning that he sometimes went against his convictions as a Quebecerwhen he was a member of the government.

"One more Quebec minister, one fewer Quebec ministerit doesn't change much," Blanchet said.

With Rodriguez's departure, the Liberals will have33 MPs in Quebec the same number as theBloc Qubcois.

WATCH: Ministers insist Rodriguez's resignation is not connected to byelection loss

Ministers say Rodriguezs cabinet resignation isnt connected to Liberal byelection loss

27 days ago

Duration 1:07

CBC News and Radio-Canada have learned Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez is expected to resign from cabinet Thursday to seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec. Immigration Minister Marc Miller says any decision Rodriguez makes about his future will have absolutely nothing to do with the Liberals' loss in the Montreal riding of LaSalle-mard-Verdun. Minister of National Defence Bill Blair says the move is not an easy decision for Rodriguez.