Never been to riding, rookie NDP MP admits

Arookie NDP MP whowon a seat in Quebec despite beinglargely invisible during the five-week campaign admits she has never set foot in her riding.

Inher first media interview since being elected on Monday night, Ruth Ellen Brosseau said her victory in the southern Quebec riding of Berthier-Maskinong came as a "shock" because she "wasn't really expecting to win."

Brosseautold the Trois-Rivires newspaper Le Nouvellisteshewill bevisiting the riding in the next few days.

"Unfortunately, I've never had the opportunity to go to the riding," Brosseau said during the interview, which was conducted mostly in Englishand posted online Saturday.

"I'm really excited to come. I've heard it's a beautiful place, and everybody's been so friendly."

Brosseauhas been criticized for not living in the riding where she ran,as well asfortaking a trip toLas Vegas during the campaign.

Brosseau,who just turned 27,told the newspaper the Las Vegas trip was a "special birthday trip" that she couldn't cancel.

"It was planned before [theelection],but it was just kind of bad timing," she said.

Brosseau, who worked as anassistant manager at a CarletonUniversitycampus bar in Ottawa, hours away from herriding,said she's always supported the NDP and was not paid to put her name on the ballot.

'I'm a very strong-willed person'

The newlyminted parliamentarianspoke some French during the interview, but acknowledged she was "nervous" speaking the language, despite having a French father and attending French-immersion high school.

She also said sheconsiders herself ready to serve the riding as an MP and suggested other newly elected members face the same adjustments.

"Obviously, all of us have a lot of training to do," she said."I'm not the only one."

Brosseau dismissedspeculation she was considering stepping down.

"I'm a very strong-willed person, a stubborn woman," she said."Once I set my mind to something, I always stick to it."

Asked about her recent experienceas the subject of intense media scrutiny, Brosseau said she didn't think anybodywouldbeused to that kind of attention.

But she said it's made her a "stronger person," and said her "skin is getting thicker every day."