# 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. Between 2020 and 2023, Cuzner served as the Consul General of Canada to the United States (Boston).

## 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. 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.
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.
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.
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. After his retirement, Darren Fisher delivered it.
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".
Cuzner was re-elected to a sixth straight term with 74.4% of the vote in the 2015 Canadian federal election.
On April 26, 2019, Cuzner announced he wouldn't run for re-election in the 2019 election.

## 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).
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.

## Personal life

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

## Electoral record

vte2015 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 | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 43,237 | 99.37 | | $205,381.80 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 274 | 0.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,511 | 71.58 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 60,785 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +24.23 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2011 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 | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 35,476 | 100.0 | | $83,274.40 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 336 | 0.94 | +0.14 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,812 | 62.47 | -0.84 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 57,331 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -4.40 |
| Sources: |||||||
vte2008 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 | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 36,272 | 100.0 | | $80,776 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 292 | 0.80 | +0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,564 | 63.31 | -3.21 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 57,753 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -2.20 |
vte2006 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 | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 40,281 | 100.0 | | $76,321 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 288 | 0.71 | -0.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,569 | 66.52 | +2.72 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 60,984 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -2.00 |
vte2004 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 | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 37,810 | 100.0 | | $73,856 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 361 | 0.95 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,171 | 63.80 | -3.38 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 59,825 |
| | Liberal notional hold | Liberal notional hold | Swing | 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. |||||||
vte2000 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 | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 37,949 | 100.00 |
| | Liberal gain from New Democratic | Liberal gain from New Democratic | Swing | Swing | +18.93 |