A new transport minister will be sworn in at Rideau Hall on Thursday afternoon after Pablo Rodriguez resigned from cabinet and quit the Liberal caucus to turn his attention to Quebec provincial politics.
Rodriguez made a symbolic walk from Parliament Hill to Gatineau, Que., over the Alexandra Bridge on Thursday morning, where he announced he鈥檚 leaving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 caucus to run for the Quebec Liberal leadership.
He said sitting as an Independent member of Parliament will allow him to focus on his own priorities.
鈥淚 was defending the priorities of the government, and I did it in a very loyal way,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 normal and it鈥檚 what I had to do. But now it鈥檚 more about my vision, the vision of the team that I鈥檓 building.鈥�
He said he will stay on as an MP until the Quebec Liberal leadership campaign officially launches in January.
Rodriguez said that will 鈥渁void a costly byelection a few weeks, or months, before a general election.鈥�
He said he doesn鈥檛 want a federal election right away and will vote against the non-confidence motion the Conservatives plan to introduce next week.
As for how he would vote on other matters before the House of Commons, 鈥渋t would depend on the votes.鈥�
His resignation comes the same week as the Liberals lost a key byelection in a stronghold riding in Montreal to the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand has been sworn in as federal transport minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, taking over a portfolio left vacant after Rodriguez resigned from cabinet and the Liberal caucus on Thursday.
Anand thanked Rodriguez for his contributions to the government and the country, saying she鈥檚 grateful for his guidance and friendship.
She sidestepped a question about the message it sends to have him leave the federal Liberal fold.
鈥淭hat is a decision that he made independently, and I wish him well,鈥� she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not present for the swearing-in ceremony, nor were any other members of the Liberal government.
The shakeup in cabinet comes just days after the Liberals lost a key seat in a Montreal byelection to the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois and amid renewed calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down and make way for a new leader.
Anand said she is not actively seeking leadership of the party, saying she is focused on her roles as minister and as MP.
鈥淢y view is that we are a team, and we are a team that has to keep delivering for our country,鈥� she said.
The minority Liberal government is in a more challenging position in the House of Commons after the NDP ended a supply-and-confidence deal that provided parliamentary stability for more than two years.
Non-confidence votes are guaranteed to come from the Opposition Conservatives, who are eager to bring the government down.
