Ruth Ellen Brosseau campaigned alongside NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in 2021. After losing her seat in 2019, she is now trying to win it back in the same Quebec riding during this election. The Canadian Press
Ruth Ellen Brosseau is ready to return to federal politics in Quebec. After 14 years, she wants to represent the same riding she once held — Berthier-Maskinongé. This area runs along the St. Lawrence River, between Montreal and Trois-Rivières.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced her comeback on social media this Sunday. He said Brosseau will run again as a candidate for the New Democratic Party (NDP).
Brosseau first became known in 2011. She shocked everyone by winning the seat without visiting the riding during her campaign. At the time, she even flew to Las Vegas to celebrate her 27th birthday while the election was going on.
Despite that, she was one of 59 NDP candidates who won in Quebec that year. The party was led by Jack Layton, who helped push the NDP to become the Official Opposition for the first time ever. That wave of success became known as the “Orange Wave.”
After winning, Brosseau worked hard to prove herself. She became the NDP’s critic for agriculture. She stayed in the seat through the 2015 election but lost it in 2019. She lost again in 2021, that time by fewer than 1,000 votes to Yves Perron, the former Bloc Québécois president.
Now, she believes it’s the right time to return. The NDP hopes her experience and strong ties to the riding will help win back the seat.
Brosseau’s comeback comes at a time when the NDP is struggling in national polls. The Liberal Party is gaining support again, especially as Canada faces serious economic concerns. Tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump have also raised worries about trade and national security.
In this climate, the NDP is shifting its message. Jagmeet Singh no longer tells voters to elect him as prime minister. Instead, he urges Canadians to choose NDP Members of Parliament who can hold the Liberal government responsible.
The party’s focus now is on getting more MPs in Parliament, not leading the government. This new approach could change how people see Brosseau’s campaign.
Brosseau’s story is unique. From an unexpected win to becoming a well-known voice in Parliament, her political journey has been full of surprises. Her return may bring new energy to the NDP in Quebec, where they once had a stronghold.
As election season nears, all eyes will be on Berthier-Maskinongé. The NDP hopes Brosseau’s comeback can help reignite support in the province.
