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rfmcdonaldFacebook's Ryan shared the news that Québec NDP MP Ruth-Ellen Brosseau, who--as I noted this month--has done quite well in her riding in central Québec despite her status as a political novice, is planning to run in the next election.
The success of Brosseau might be taken as an indicator of the NDP's strength in Québec, a province that made the party's fortunes in the last election despite a historically very weak presence. Can the NDP grow roots and take hold? If Brosseau's any indication, the answer's yes.
The success of Brosseau might be taken as an indicator of the NDP's strength in Québec, a province that made the party's fortunes in the last election despite a historically very weak presence. Can the NDP grow roots and take hold? If Brosseau's any indication, the answer's yes.
It was a year ago this week that Brosseau was making regular phone calls home from Las Vegas, where she was celebrating her 27th birthday under the bright lights of Sin City.
Those calls brought news that turned her life upside down.
"Of course being a mom, I called home all the time and spoke to my son and my family,'' Brosseau told The Canadian Press in an interview.
"They were kind of like: 'There's, um, stuff going on here, you're kind of in the news a bit for going on your trip.' ''
[. . .]
The Canadian Press followed Brosseau last week in her riding, where she met with constituents and fielded French questions from local journalists at a news conference.
She appears to have grown into her new job and, given the French lessons she's been taking, original claims about her lack of proficiency in the language now appear exaggerated.
Brosseau, who turns 28 on Thursday, insists she learned French as a child, but it was rusty and she didn't have the confidence to express herself comfortably last spring.
In a twist, the rumours about her struggles with French are now working in her favour — many locals still believe she was a unilingual anglophone just a year ago.
Several people remarked last week about how impressed they were with her progress, with some crediting her quick mastery of the language for winning them over.
[. . .]
[Brosseau] says she enjoys talking with people and fighting for their interests.
With this increasing taste for politics, she plans to run again in 2015.
"I definitely got bit by the bug,'' she said. "It's been a whirlwind, it's been a crazy year and it's flown by. I've been lucky, it's been very positive thus far.''
