NDP incumbent Ruth Ellen Brosseau campaigning hard this time around

One of the most famous candidates to ride the Orange Wave during the 2011 says she’s working hard to prove that waving is still rolling.

Elected to Berthier-Maskinonge, Ruth Ellen Brosseau, a young mother from Ottawa with no political experience – who didn’t even visit her riding, took a trip to Las Vegas during the campaign, and spoke limited French – has by most accounts come a long way.

In four years, she has gone from political unknown, to public fixture in her riding.

“I wanted to be a Member of Parliament that was really present and knew her issues,” said Brosseau at Louiseville City Hall Wednesday, there to support the launch of an annual buckwheat crepe festival.

Many praise her hard work and dedication.

“She's become a member of this community. Her French has improved, and she's always available to help,” said Festival de la Galette de Sarrasin de Louiseville president Yvon Picotte.

Brosseau was one of the 59 Quebec NDPs swept up in the Orange Wave that MPs targeted by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper earlier in the campaign.

“Over the past four years, the NDP MPs have been the most ineffective group in history,” Harper said in Laval Aug. 3.

Brosseau says she's proud of her work as deputy critic of agriculture and believes Harper is posturing.

“I think he's feeling kind of threatened by the NDP and our leader. I think over the past four years we demonstrated that we’ve been a very strong voice of opposition,” said Brosseau.

Before Brosseau's election, the riding of Berthier-Maskinonge was held by the Bloc Quebecois.

“Since 2011, we think that Quebec has no voice in Ottawa,” said Bloc candidate Yves Perron, who is fighting to win the riding back.

Perron said the NDP has been soft on issues important to Quebecers, specifically Tom Mulcair's uncertain position on the Energy East pipeline.

“When is it going to spill and where? We don't want it on our territory and we don't understand why it isn't good for British Columbia and it is for Quebec,” said Perron.

The Liberal candidate for Berthier-Maskinonge Pierre Destrampes was not available for comment, but in a statement said the Liberal platform will provide a strong voice for Quebec.

Last election, Brosseau won by more than 5000 votes. This election will be her first true campaign, one she says will take 15-hour days or longer to win as an incumbent.