Pablo Rodriguez is the premier Quebec needs

The fate of Quebec matters deeply to us.

Quebec is facing major challenges in areas such as health, education, the economy, immigration, culture and housing.

After six years, it’s clear that under François Legault and the CAQ government, the situation has worsened. Less of us have access to a doctor, there’s a shortage of teachers in our schools and a shortage of childcare spaces. Quebec households are pessimistic about their future and worried about climate change. There’s a shortage of housing throughout Quebec, and the government is cutting francization.

The Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) needs a leader who will win the hearts, respect and trust of Quebecers. The question we must ask ourselves is the following: who is ready to become Premier of our province?

With two years to go before the next election, we need an experienced leader who embodies liberal values and knows how to win. We believe that leader is Pablo Rodriguez. He will follow in the footsteps of premiers Jean Lesage, Lucien Bouchard and Jean Charest, who also began their political careers in Ottawa, then came home to Quebec.

A man of values

For over 150 years, the QLP has been a party guided by profound, universal values that live in the hearts of Quebecers: respect for individual freedoms, identification with Quebec, economic development, social justice, respect for civil society, the importance of democracy and of our Canadian identity, intergenerational equity, protection of the environment and the fight against climate change. Pablo Rodriguez has embodied and defended these values with integrity and passion since he began his political journey.

A Sherbrooke guy, close to the people

Pablo and his family arrived in Quebec as political refugees in 1974. Not speaking a word of French, a young Pablo Rodriguez integrated into Quebec culture by playing hockey on Sherbrooke rinks. Sherbrooke is his “home”. For 20 years, he’s been crisscrossing Quebec. He has friends in every corner of the province, and wherever he goes, people affectionately call him Pablo because he’s accessible, and always ready to listen.

An experienced leader

The QLP needs a leader with proven experience. In the wake of constitutional debates in the 90s, Pablo Rodriguez decided to stand up for Quebec and Quebec’s place in our federation. That’s how he came to be the youth vice-president of the Crémazie riding and a member of the national executive of the QLP Youth Commission. Since then, he has never given up.

In 2015, 2019 and 2021, Pablo Rodriguez managed three electoral campaigns in Quebec, and in each election delivered the highest number of votes and MPs of any party. This achievement deserves to be highlighted.

Let’s not forget that in recent years, he was Minister of Heritage, Minister of Transport and Québec Lieutenant. He delivered major victories for Quebec, including the recognition of the Davie shipyard in Lévis, Operation High-Speed to finally connect all our regions, and agreements to build more housing.

In 2026, Quebecers will have an important choice to make which will define the next chapter of our history. Pablo Rodriguez is the premier Quebec needs, and that’s why he can count on our support in the QLP leadership race that begins next January.

Signatories:

• Luc Fortin, Co-chair, Pablo Rodriguez leadership race, minister under Premier Philippe Couillard;
• Désirée McGraw, Liberal MP, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce;
• Martin Coiteux, minister under Premier Philippe Couillard;
• Sam Elkas, minister under Premier Robert Bourassa;
• Robert Poëti, minister under Premier Philippe Couillard;
• Guy Hardy, MP under Philippe Couillard;
• Albert Khelfa, MP under Robert Bourassa;
• Camille Picard, MP under Claude Ryan;
• Omar Berri, Liberal riding president of Charlesbourg;
• Patrick Boissonneault, Liberal riding president of Marquette;
• Sophie Boulos, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Charles Breton, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Rémi Bujold, chief of staff under Premier Robert Bourassa;
• Denise Caron, Liberal riding president of Granby;
• Nicolas Chevrette, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Christian Cyr, regional president of Gaspésie–les-Îles and Liberal riding president of Bonaventure;
• Mazen El-Khansa, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Amanda Fakihi, chair of the 2024 QLP Youth Council;
• André Junior Florestal, Liberal riding president of Argenteuil;
• Jacqueline Fortier, Liberal riding president of Sherbrooke;
• Chantal Gagnon, Liberal riding president of Anjou–Louis-Riel;
• Nicolas Gosselin, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Elliott Grondin, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Sandrine Grondin, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Joe Haddad, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Ambrose Samwel Kibos, Liberal riding president of Mégantic;
• Chris Koutsaris, Liberal riding president of Laurier-Dorion;
• Xavier Lacroix, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Michel Larochelle, Liberal riding president of Saint-François;
• Noah Lepage, member of the QLP Youth Commission;;
• Estelle Regina Lokrou, Liberal riding president of Rousseau;
• Justin Ménard, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Nicolas Ouimet, Liberal riding president of Gouin;
• Charles Poulin, former candidate in Saint-François, Team Philippe Couillard;
• Amélie Turgeon, member of the QLP Youth Commission;
• Gaetana Donna Varrica, Liberal riding president of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

This letter of support was published in French on 8 November on the TVA Nouvelles website. The signatories approved only the French version.