(Ottawa) Minister of Supply and Public Services Jean-Yves Duclos will be named Justin Trudeau’s next political lieutenant in Quebec, it has been learned. The Press from several sources.
Mr. Duclos will thus take over from the former Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, who has just resigned from his ministerial duties in order to run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is turning to Mr. Duclos to relaunch the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec after the party’s painful defeat in the riding of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun.
In addition to overseeing the party’s electoral preparations in Quebec, Mr. Duclos will also have to ensure good relations between Ottawa and the Quebec government.
His appointment comes hours after Quebec Premier François Legault urged the Bloc Québécois to vote in favour of the Conservative Party’s motion of censure in order to defeat the minority government in the Commons and trigger a federal election this fall.
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet rejected the request, saying he does not work for the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party in Ottawa or the CAQ government in Quebec.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must also appoint a new transport minister.