Ruth Ellen Brosseau's attempted comeback, after two years running a farm, is too close to call
Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who famously went from bartending to Parliament, has proven once again that she has staying power in her rural Quebec riding, though her hoped-for comeback is still too close to call.
Two years after losing her seat, locals know Brosseau better than ever, many say. She's been busy since 2019, when the NDP MP lost in Berthier-Maskinongé to the Bloc Québécois: having married a pork farmer, she's been working on their farm.
When COVID-19 hit, sending local farmers into a tailspin, she started an online farmers' market co-op system to help them sell their goods.
As of 1:45 a.m., Brosseau's race was one of the few in the country that's too close to call. She and the Bloc incumbent, Yves Perron, were 1,008 votes apart, with Brosseau in second place. She lost to Perron in 2019 by just 1,500 votes.
This race may not be decided for days: an NDP spoesperson said there were about 900 to 1,000 mail-in ballots cast in the riding.
Brosseau's story has fascinated Canadians, but the latest chapter has taken place off the national stage, deep in her heavily agricultural riding.
She first came to Ottawa in 2011's so-called NDP "orange crush" surprise sweep of Quebec. She had volunteered to put her name on the ballot in Berthier-Maskinongé but, she said at the time, never expected to win.
In 2015, however, her win was earned: while most of Quebec's other NDP MPs lost their seats in a red wave of Liberal support, Brosseau stayed standing.
In 2019, she lost to the Bloc Québécois. This election brought her back, though she announced her candidacy relatively late, and she later explained why: she had taken on new responsibilities, at a farm, and wasn't sure she could step away.
She held her election-night party at the charcuterie shop at this farm, her husband's, called Le rieur sanglier, which means "the laughing boar." She's been working there for the last 20 months.
When first elected in 2011, the then-single mother didn't even speak French. But putting down such deep roots in Berthier-Maskinongé has kept her very popular, and still a public figure, supporters told CTV.
Many in the riding still call her with constituent issues, they said, despite knowing that she hasn't been in office since 2019.
Her hurdle this election, they said, was similar to the last election: her party leader, with many in the riding not sure of their feelings about Jagmeet Singh.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.