Pablo Rodriguez (Canadian politician)

Criminal charge

On April 16, 2010, Rodriguez was charged under the Criminal Code of Canada, after he collided his BMW with a parked car in Montreal.^[15] Police attending the crash reported Rodriguez had bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, and during attempts to administer a breathalyzer test, Rodriguez "breathed very weakly and cut his breath repeatedly, all the while holding the plastic tip at the edge of his lips".^[16]

According to Rodriguez himself, "Because I'd consumed a moderate amount of wine during the previous supper, the police officer asked me to proceed with a breathalyzer test, using a hand-held machine, which I did without hesitation".^[17] Despite the criminal charge, Rodriguez remained in the Liberal caucus.^[18]

In the 2011 election he was defeated by the New Democratic Party's Paulina Ayala amid the New Democratic Party's surge in Quebec.

42nd Canadian Parliament

Rodriguez served as Chief Government Whip for a year and a half from January 30, 2017.

Rodriguez served in the 42nd Canadian Parliament as the Minister of Canadian Heritage from July 18, 2018 until dissolution of that government on November 20, 2019. One of his signature initiatives at Heritage was the expansion of the Canada Periodical Fund from magazine-format monthlies to daily broadsheets. This was announced in Bill Morneau's November 21, 2018 "fiscal update" as a $600-million fund over five years.^[19][20] The measure was widely applauded in the press "by an eclectic group of media outlets, including Postmedia, which owns the National Post, Torstar, which publishes the Toronto Star, SaltWire Network, and the CBC among others."^[21]

43rd Canadian Parliament

Rodriguez was re-elected in the 2019 federal election.^{[citation needed]}

From formation on November 20, 2019 until dissolution, Rodriguez served as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.^{[citation needed]}

44th Canadian Parliament

After the 2021 election, Rodriguez was re-appointed as Minister of Canadian Heritage on October 26, 2021.

Rodriguez introduced the Online News Act, Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.^[22] It received Royal Assent on June 22, 2023. The bill would force tech giants to compensate news organizations. The Trudeau government has dismissed the complaints of the tech giants will have to pay exorbitant amounts of money and would face uncapped liability based on how many links are posted.^[23]

In 2020, Steven Guilbeault, the Minister of Canadian Heritage at the time, proposed Bill C-10, however, due to suspension of parliament in 2021, and the call of an early election, permanently paused the bill.^[24] After Rodriguez became the Minister of Canadian Heritage, he proposed Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.^[25] C-11 later passed both the House of Commons and the Senate, receiving royal consent on April 27, 2023, and becoming law.^[25] C-11 amends the broadcasting act, created in 1968, by creating a framework that online broadcasters, such as Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify must follow.^[26] It expands the power of the Canadian Radio Television-Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, giving the CRTC flexibility on how to do the regulations.^[26] The goal of C-11 is to promote Canadian Content, and extend its beliefs online.^[26][27] Proponents of C-11, such as Neal McDougall of TVO, argue that C-11 modernizes the ageing Broadcasting Act, ensuring online streamers and Canadian broadcasters play by the same rules, and promotes Canadian content and culture.^[28] However, C-11 has also been criticized, such as by Dr. Michael Geist, who argues multiple definitions were left undefined in C-11, including definitions on Canadian Content and mandated contributions.^[29]

On July 26, 2023, Rodriguez was appointed Minister of Transport.^[30]