Pablo Rodríguez (Canadian politician)


Pablo Rodríguez 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.

Early life and career

Rodríguez was born on June 21, 1967 in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. 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.
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.

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.

Electoral record