Liberal leadership debate: Pablo Rodriguez faces attacks by opponents

Quebec Liberal Party leadership candidates, from left, Marc Belanger, Mario Roy, Charles Milliard, Pablo Rodriguez and Karl Blackburn pose for a photograph following the Quebec Liberal Party French-language leadership debate in Laval, Que., Saturday, May 3, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)

Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership candidate and former federal transport minister Pablo Rodriguez was the target of several attacks from his opponents during the race’s fourth debate, which focused on public services.

Former Conseil du patronat president Karl Blackburn opened the hostilities when the subject of health care came up.

“[Pablo], you have defended Ottawa’s policies in Quebec more often than Quebec’s policies in Ottawa, and health care is a Quebec jurisdiction,” he said.

Rodriquez retorted: “That’s not knowing me very well, Karl. I’ve always stood up for Quebec.”

“Pablo, you don’t have much credibility,” was the response.

When it came to the Third Link, the former federal minister proposed a tunnel between Quebec City and Lévis dedicated to public transport, while the other candidates said they favoured a motorway.

“It costs $10 billion less. I’ve just saved $10 billion compared to the other four candidates,” said Rodriguez.

Tax lawyer Marc Bélanger countered that there was “no economic vision” in Rodriguez’s plan.

Blackburn then asserted: “Pablo, you don’t have much credibility in public management.”

At a press briefing after the debate, he continued, “We’ve heard Pablo talk a lot about the Liberal Party of Canada (...) He seems to miss the Liberal Party of Canada,” he said.

Beauce farmer Mario Roy also did not mince words, accusing the “Trudeau-Rodriguez government” of having “destroyed our economy.”

Former Federation of Chambers of Commerce CEO Charles Millard then asked Rodriguez about the federal role in health and education.

He barely had time to reply that the federal government should “support the provinces” when Millard cut him off and said: “The answer is nothing.”

Blackburn was quick to say that he agreed with Milliard.

A recent Léger poll shows that 32 per cent of Liberal voters believe that Rodriguez is the best leader for their party.

His opponents lag far behind.

The poll also shows that Rodriguez’s arrival with the provincial Liberals would considerably shift the electorate, as the PLQ would find itself with 31 per cent of voting intentions, one point ahead of the Parti Québécois (PQ).

With Blackburn, the Liberals would rise to 25 per cent; with Milliard, that number is 22 per cent.

The Liberals are expected to choose their new leader on June 14, with Leader Marc Tanguay’s interim reign coming to an end.

Thursday morning, he announced that he did not intend to vote for the next Liberal leader.

“I have no preference (...) As interim leader, I owe myself the utmost neutrality,” he explained.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 23, 2024.