Rodger Cuzner

Rodger Trueman Cuzner (born November 4, 1955) is a Canadian politician and diplomat who currently serves as a Senator for Nova Scotia in the Senate of Canada. He previously served as the Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Cape Breton—Canso and its predecessor, Bras d'Or—Cape Breton, from 2000 to 2019. For most of 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister under Jean Chrétien, and served as Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour in the Justin Trudeau government.^[1] Between 2020 and 2023, Cuzner served as the Consul General of Canada to the United States (Boston).

The Honourable Rodger Cuzner
Senator for Nova Scotia
Incumbent
Assumed office October 31, 2023
Nominated by	Justin Trudeau
Appointed by	Mary Simon
Consul General of Canada to the United States
In office October 30, 2020 – June 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	David Alward
Succeeded by	Bernadette Jordan
Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso (Bras d'Or—Cape Breton; 2000–2004)
In office November 27, 2000 – October 21, 2019
Preceded by	Michelle Dockrill
Succeeded by	Mike Kelloway
Parliamentary Secretary posts
2015–2019	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
2003	Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Shadow Cabinet posts
2013–2015	Critic for Employment and Social Development
2011–2013	Critic for Human Resources and Skills Development
2010–2011	Critic for Fisheries and Oceans
2008–2010	Chief Opposition Whip
2006–2007	Critic for Veterans Affairs
Personal details
Born	(1955-11-04) November 4, 1955 (age 69) Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political party	Progressive Senate Group
Other political affiliations	Liberal (until 2019)
Spouse	Lynn Cuzner
Residence	Cape Breton
Profession	Diplomat, Politician, Community organizer

Early life and education

Cuzner was born the second of six children born to Trueman and Kay Cuzner in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He studied physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. He worked as the Special Event Coordinator for the Cape Breton Department of Recreation, Culture and Facilities, where he was responsible for major events like the Millennium Countdown 2000. Cuzner has been very involved with hockey throughout his life. He coached Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Games in 1995 and 1999.

Political career

Cuzner was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Bras d'Or—Cape Breton and, later, Cape Breton—Canso. He was first elected in 2000.^[2] Cuzner served as Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from January 13, 2003, to December 11, 2003, and held other key positions within the Liberal Caucus, including chair of Nova Scotia Caucus, chair of Atlantic Caucus, and Chief Opposition Whip. He also served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.^[3][4]

In his early years in parliament, Cuzner focused on matters surrounding both Veteran Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans. During the later part of his Parliamentary career, much of his attention was directed toward Workforce Development and National Labour issues.^[5]

As an elected official representing Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, he worked with community and industry to build and mature the tourism sector. Major investments in infrastructure contributed to this growth, notably two of the top-rated golf courses in the world, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs.^[5]

Cuzner regularly represented the Liberal Party on the weekly MP panel on CTV News Channel's Power Play, and was regularly asked to appear on other national political affairs programs, on television, and radio.

Cuzner traditionally delivered a humorous, politically themed rewrite of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on the last house sitting before the holiday break.^[6] After his retirement, Darren Fisher delivered it.^[7]

He was twice voted as "Most Collegial" Member of Parliament by his Parliamentary colleagues, and was described by Maclean's in 2017 as "Parliament's Sense of Humour".^[8][9]

Cuzner was re-elected to a sixth straight term with 74.4% of the vote in the 2015 Canadian federal election.^[10]

On April 26, 2019, Cuzner announced he wouldn't run for re-election in the 2019 election.^[11][12]

Post-political life

On October 31, 2020, it was reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Cuzner as the new Consul General to the United States (Boston).^[13][14]

On October 31, 2023, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.^[15]

Personal life

Cuzner and his wife Lynn (née Hopkins) have three children: Mitch, Scott and Brad.

Electoral record

v t e 2015 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	32,163	74.39	+30.29	$69,357.97
	Conservative	Adam Daniel Rodgers	6,246	14.45	–18.17	$36,970.92
	New Democratic	Michelle Smith	3,547	8.20	–11.84	$3,803.75
	Green	Maria Goretti Coady	1,281	2.96	–0.28	–
Total valid votes/expense limit			43,237	99.37		$205,381.80
Total rejected ballots			274	0.63
Turnout			43,511	71.58
Eligible voters			60,785
	Liberal hold		Swing		+24.23
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]

v t e 2011 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	16,478	46.45	-1.65	$63,928.72
	Conservative	Clarence Derrick Kennedy	10,873	30.65	+7.15	$75,474.80
	New Democratic	Marney Simmons	6,984	19.69	-1.43	$2,528.46
	Green	Glen Carabin	1,141	3.22	-4.06	$346.95
Total valid votes/expense limit			35,476	100.0		$83,274.40
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			336	0.94	+0.14
Turnout			35,812	62.47	-0.84
Eligible voters			57,331
	Liberal hold		Swing		-4.40
Sources:[18][19]

v t e 2008 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	17,447	48.10	-5.09	$35,405.44
	Conservative	Allan Murphy	8,524	23.50	-0.68	$51,511.90
	New Democratic	Mark MacNeill	7,660	21.12	+0.98	$6,483.40
	Green	Dwayne MacEachern	2,641	7.28	+4.78	$5,315.05
Total valid votes/expense limit			36,272	100.0		$80,776
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			292	0.80	+0.09
Turnout			36,564	63.31	-3.21
Eligible voters			57,753
	Liberal hold		Swing		-2.20

v t e 2006 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	21,424	53.19	-0.07	$62,038.40
	Conservative	Kenzie MacNeil	9,740	24.18	+3.94	$47,590.43
	New Democratic	Hector Morrison	8,111	20.14	-4.18	$7,662.93
	Green	Rob Hines	1,006	2.50	+0.33	$323.17
Total valid votes/expense limit			40,281	100.0		$76,321
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			288	0.71	-0.24
Turnout			40,569	66.52	+2.72
Eligible voters			60,984
	Liberal hold		Swing		-2.00

v t e 2004 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	20,139	53.26	-0.33	$63,078.17
	New Democratic	Shirley Hartery	9,197	24.32	+5.44	$21,160.51
	Conservative	Kenzie MacNeil	7,654	20.24	-7.19	$49,919.36
	Green	Seumas Gibson	820	2.17	–	none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit			37,810	100.0		$73,856
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			361	0.95
Turnout			38,171	63.80	-3.38
Eligible voters			59,825
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		-2.88
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals.

v t e 2000 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rodger Cuzner	20,815	54.85	+16.41
	Progressive Conservative	Alfie MacLeod	8,114	21.38	+1.12
	New Democratic	Michelle Dockrill	7,537	19.86	-21.44
	Alliance	John Currie	1,483	3.91	–
Total valid votes			37,949	100.00
	Liberal gain from New Democratic		Swing		+18.93