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Montreal Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Pablo Rodriguez targeted as Quebec Liberal leadership debate gets heated
Quebec Politics By QUEBEC — After three relatively tame debates, the candidates vying for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party upped their game on Thursday and candidate Pablo Rodriguez was the target of most of their hits. Even though Rodriguez is selling himself as the only candidate with enough experience to beat Premier François Legault, candidates Charles Milliard and Karl Blackburn honed in on him as not being nationalist enough to woo back francophone voters. Everyone shook hands at the end, but it was Rodriguez's past as a federal Liberal cabinet minister that came back to haunt him. 'Pablo, you more often defended Ottawa's policies in Quebec than Quebec's policies in Ottawa,' Blackburn fired across the stage at Rodriguez in the fourth leadership debate held in a theatre at Université Laval before 400 Liberals. 'That is to not know me,' Rodriguez responded. 'I have always stood up for Quebec. I will always stand up. I don't need any lectures.' Officially, the theme of the debate was government services, with all five candidates saying the Coalition Avenir Québec government has broken a social contract with Quebecers by providing such poor services in health and education despite high taxes. Using the theme, Milliard tossed questions at Rodriguez about his vision. 'According to you, what is the role of the federal government in health and education?' Milliard, the former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, asked Rodriguez. 'To support the work of the provinces,' Rodriguez responded before Milliard jumped in to correct him. 'The right answer is none,' Milliard said. Beauce farmer and economist Mario Roy also waded in, accusing Rodriguez of being part of a 'Trudeau-Rodriguez' government that destroyed the Quebec economy and closed off markets. Later, meeting reporters, both Blackburn, a former Liberal MNA from Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean who says he is the candidate to woo nationalist voters back, and Milliard said they wanted Liberal voters to have a better idea of who Rodriguez is before they vote for a new leader to replace Dominique Anglade. Milliard said he thinks the Liberals have to return to the 'essence of Canada,' which in his mind are sovereign provinces with their own jurisdictional powers, with Ottawa offering common services in the country. 'In the last 10 years, the government Mr. Rodriguez was part of has wavered on this,' Milliard said. 'I like Ottawa, but Ottawa has nothing to do with health and education. Period. 'If I am asking questions, it is because I am worried.' Blackburn was blunter, saying Rodriguez seems to 'talk a lot about the federal government' and the government he was part of. 'It's as if he misses the Liberal Party of Canada,' Blackburn said. 'I have only ever had one political family, it is the Liberal Party of Quebec.' Rodriguez brushed off the criticism, saying he has what it takes to negotiate with Ottawa because he knows how the place works and still has contacts there, which can be an advantage for a Quebec premier. 'I know most of the members of the (Carney) cabinet and they know me, too,' Rodriguez said. He added: 'It is the priority of a premier of Quebec to defend its jurisdictions, to go defend loud and clear what we are as a nation; this is what I did as the Quebec lieutenant (of former prime minister Justin Trudeau). He said he delivered the goods for Quebec on housing, internet connections and health care financing. 'A politician who goes to Ottawa goes as a Quebecer above all and he fights for Quebec,' Rodriguez said. The crowd seemed to relish in the more heated debate, a message picked up by candidate Marc Bélanger, an international trade lawyer who, by the luck of the draw, found himself at the middle podium on the stage. 'It took us four debates to thaw out,' Bélanger quipped at one point. 'I look forward to the next one.' The next debate, the second-last one that is being organized by the Liberal Party youth wing, is Sunday in Trois-Rivières. Liberals will start voting for their new leader on June 9, a process that leads up to the June 14 convention where the new leader is elected. The next election in Quebec is in October 2026.
Montreal Gazette
03-05-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
A tame first debate, but Pablo Rodriguez is main target of attacks
Quebec Politics By It wasn't what you would call a barnburner but, after shadow boxing for months, the five candidates vying for the Quebec Liberal leadership finally had a chance to debate policy and ideas with each other, face-to-face, Saturday. And as expected former federal MP Pablo Rodriguez was the target of most of the attacks, with his opponents invoking his past life as a federal Liberal cabinet minister in the government of Justin Trudeau. The first jab came early in the debate — held at a hotel in Laval before 500 Liberal militants — when the candidates were discussing fiscal policies to counter the effects of inflation. 'One thing we won't do is send everyone a cheque,' Rodriguez said. 'The other thing we won't do is give money to the L.A. Kings.' Seizing the opening, candidate Charles Milliard, the former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, reminded Rodriquez he was part of a government that in 2024 wanted to send all Canadians $250 cheques to help them deal with inflation. 'I'm happy to hear Pablo you don't want to send any cheques,' Milliard joked. 'Because there were a lot of them from the federal level.' Milliard went on to say the Coalition Avenir Québec government was guilty of the same policy-making, which he called the 'cheque syndrome,' a tactic designed for short-term electoral gains. Rodriguez brushed off the comment, but it was one of several lobbed his way during the debate, including references from other candidates to people who are 'career politicians.' And Karl Blackburn, the former president of the Conseil du Patronat, bluntly accused Rodriguez of being part of a federal government that 'closed the door' to more immigration by playing politics with the issue. He said the Trudeau government caved into pressure from the Legault government when there are 124,000 jobs open in Quebec because there are no workers. 'People see it (racism) as a threat when it should instead be seen as a richness,' Blackburn said. Later, the Rodriquez camp made the rounds of the media, stressing Rodriguez was already an independent MP when the cheque issue came to life and he voted against the idea. Milliard was unapologetic. 'I did it a bit tongue and cheek because we need to remember there were actions taken by the Legault and Trudeau governments in the last few years which increased inflation,' Milliard told reporters after the debate. 'It was a one-liner, but it is based on the truth.' Rodriguez later said he was not surprised the candidates took aim at him. 'It means I have a lot of experience,' Rodriguez told reporters. 'This is exactly what the Liberal Party of Quebec needs. It's tough to run a government, especially in difficult periods, but I've been there, I've done that. This is what the Liberal Party of Quebec needs. They need a leader with experience.' But it was a first debate, with the candidates politely sizing each other up for five future jousting matches. On Sunday, they will do it all over again in English at John Abbott College. The debates are being live-streamed on the Liberal Party website. 'They asked me to be a gentleman,' candidate Karl Blackburn quipped on his way out the door when asked about the tone of the debate. There were no glaring policy differences between the five. All agreed Quebec needs to take more steps to improve it's energy independence in the face of a hostile U.S. government. Allowing the construction of more gas and oil pipelines to bring energy from the Canadian west is an idea worth looking at, but any projects would need a level of social acceptability, they agreed. Rodriguez, who got the loudest cheers from his supporters who occupied a vast swath of the seating, arrived with one announcement in his pocket, saying if he becomes premier his government will tackle the problem of hungry children in schools. It was also a chance for the two lesser-known candidates, Matane lawyer and fiscal expert Marc Bélanger, and the 31-year-old Beauce agricultural producer and economist Mario Roy to get some exposure. Roy and Blackburn were the last candidates to enter the race. 'Today, I feel like David versus Goliath,' Roy said in his first remarks to the audience. He stood out from the pack by saying if he was premier he would pull Quebec out of the carbon exchange it shares with California. Unlike the other candidates who stressed Premier François Legault is the one the party has to target, Roy insisted he would go after Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. On their way out the door, some Liberals said they remain undecided, but pleased with the quality of the debate and the candidates. Among the undecided was the Liberal MNA for the riding of Saint-Laurent, Marwah Rizqy, who is married to the MNA for Jacques-Cartier, Greg Kelley. They are the only two MNAs left in the Liberal caucus who have not chosen a candidate. 'Greg and I we really wanted to see the debates,' Rizqy said. 'We didn't want to rush a decision without hearing what people had to say. I am 95 per cent decided.' Rodriguez, who is positioning himself as the candidate who can bring back Liberals who have drifted away, leads the other candidates in one area — fundraising. According to the chief electoral officer's website, as of May 2 Rodriguez has raised $209,790. He is followed by Milliard, who has raised $139,805. Blackburn, who arrived late in the race, has picked up $54,390. Candidate Bélanger raised $14,877, while candidate Roy has $3,191 in the bank.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
POLICE: Elk County women arrested after traveling to Pittsburgh to purchase meth
ELK COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two Elk County women are facing charges after they were allegedly caught by officers and admitted to traveling to purchase methamphetamine. Jadelyn Dengel, 29, and Angeline Milliard, 40, both of Saint Marys are facing felony drug charges after officers pulled them over and found over 300 grams of meth in their car, according to a criminal complaint. On Feb. 7, officers saw a Kia Sorento, registered to Dengel, and were notified that she had a warrant that she had failed to pay. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Dengel's vehicle and found 19.5 grams of meth in her bag and over $700 in cash. Dengel allegedly admitted to officers that she was selling 'balls' of meth for $100 and consented to have officers search her vehicle. Police: Jefferson County man charged after firing gun into attic On Feb. 22, officers then saw the same vehicle traveling on State Route 255 and noted that the driver was exhibiting 'concerning driving behaviours.' Dengel was allegedly fluctuating speeds, driving in the middle of the roadway, and had crossed the fog line. Dengel was pulled over again. This time, Milliard was in the car with her. Another search of the car was done and 12.3 grams of meth were found in Dengel's purse and 1.4 grams were in a small baggie tucked inside her shirt, according to the affidavit. The car was seized and taken into evidence while officers applied for a search warrant. On Feb. 23, officers spoke with Milliard, and she allegedly admitted that Dengel had asked her to go to Pittsburgh to pick up meth in exchange for some of the drugs. According to the affidavit, they traveled outside of the city to purchase a quarter pound of meth. On Feb. 24, officers were granted a search warrant and the following items were found in the vehicle: Approximately 337 grams of meth A cell phone A digital scale with meth residue Unweighed meth in two folded dollars Approximately 1.1 grams of loose meth Police also noted that on the day of Dengel's arrest, field sobriety tests were conducted, and she was found to be 'incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.' Dengel is facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, deal in proceeds of unlawful intent, criminal use of a communication facility, DUI, use of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver. She is in the Elk County Prison with bail set at $250,000. Milliard is facing charges of conspiracy of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, intent to possess a controlled substance, possession with the intent to deliver and dealing in proceeds of unlawful intent. She's in the Elk County Prison with bail set at $100,000. Both have preliminary hearings scheduled for March 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
