- Born
- November 4, 1955 — Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
- Family
- Cuzner and his wife Lynn (née Hopkins) have three children: Mitch, Scott and Brad.
- Education
- Studied physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
- Career
- Special Event Coordinator for the Cape Breton Department of Recreation, Culture and Facilities
- Political Experience
- 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. 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. Summoned to the Senate of Canada on October 31, 2023.
- Notable
- Served as the Consul General of Canada to the United States (Boston) between 2020 and 2023. Twice voted as 'Most Collegial' Member of Parliament.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before his appointment to the Senate, Rodger Cuzner had a long career in federal politics as the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Nova Scotia riding of Cape Breton—Canso, serving from 2000 to 2019. During his time in the House of Commons, he held several roles, including Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. Prior to entering politics, his professional background was reportedly in sports and recreation. He is known to have worked as an athletic director and coach at the Canso Regional Vocational School. Public records primarily list his income and assets as being related to his roles as a parliamentarian.
Key Relationships & Connections
Rodger Cuzner has a well-established relationship with the Liberal Party of Canada, having been a member of its caucus for 19 years as an MP. He was appointed to the Senate in 2019 on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In the Senate, he is a member of the Progressive Senate Group, which is largely composed of senators appointed under the advisory board process established by the Trudeau government. Many members of this group are former Liberals or have progressive political leanings.
Public Controversies
Rodger Cuzner's appointment to the Senate in October 2019 generated some public controversy. The appointment came shortly after he had announced in June of that year that he would not be running for re-election as a Member of Parliament. Critics, including opposition politicians and some media commentators, described the appointment as a partisan reward for a long-serving Liberal MP. They argued that it contradicted the government's stated goal of making the Senate a less partisan, merit-based institution. The government defended the appointment, stating he was recommended by the independent advisory board for Senate appointments.