(He) stood out more to me — for his reputation, his ease in connecting with people, his capacity for organizing, and his political experience at a ministerial level,” MNA Linda Caron said.
Pablo Rodriguez, a candidate for leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec, garnered new supporters on Sunday, including Linda Caron, MNA for La Pinière, and Mont-Royal–Outremont MNA Michelle Setlakwe.
As he announced his new supporters, he was accompanied by Luc Fortin, his campaign co-president and a former cabinet minister in the government of Philippe Couillard, and by Notre-Dame-de-Grâce MNA Désirée McGraw,
“What gives me confidence is them; it’s the team and the movement being built within the party,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez named Caron as senior adviser and the person responsible for seniors and social services and Setlakwe as co-president of his campaign.
“Basically, it’s these men and women who are the heart and the lungs of the movement to replace the Legault government,” Rodriguez added.
“The polls are telling us François Legault is disconnected from Quebecers; he is always pitching things to distract us.”
Caron, who has been a member of the provincial Liberal party since 1984, said she was asked to run for the party leadership, but ultimately decided to throw her support behind Rodriguez.
“Despite my strengths and ability to rally members behind me, one candidate stood out more to me — for his reputation, his ease in connecting with people, his capacity for organizing, and his political experience at a ministerial level,” Caron said. “And that candidate is Pablo,” she said before inviting “all the members of the party” to join her to support Rodriguez.
For her part, Setlakwe said she “likes the style of politician (Rodriguez) is.”
“It really clicked between Pablo and me,” she said. “During my discussions with Pablo, I was able to identify quickly he had the essential qualities needed to be our future leader.”
Currently, the federal member of Parliament for the riding of Honoré-Mercier, Rodriguez was Canada’s transport minister and the government’s Quebec lieutenant before announcing his candidacy in September. Among his supporters are former ministers in the governments of Robert Bourassa and Philippe Couillard.
Others in the race for the party’s leadership are Charles Milliard, Marc Bélanger, Denis Coderre and Frédéric Beauchemin.
“We have to be ready; there won’t be much time between the date when the leader is chosen and, then, the electoral campaign,” Rodriguez said.
“We have to be ready and we will be ready … we will represent the true and only option to the worn-out government of François Legault.”
Rodriguez said he will be announcing more supporters.