From the small village of Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick, Senator Pierrette Ringuette has always remained deeply connected to her community throughout her political career.

Driven by her dedication to socio-economic development and volunteerism, she became the first francophone woman elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly in 1987.

She then became the first francophone woman from her province to take a seat in the House of Commons in 1993.

Currently the longest-serving member of the Senate, Senator Ringuette spoke to SenCAplus about the story of her New Brunswick upbringing and the remarkable journey that led her to the Upper Chamber.

Senator Pierrette Ringuette participates in a panel discussion organized by ParlAmericas in 2017.

You come from a low-income family in Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick. Could you tell us about your upbringing?

All the families in our village were poor, but we always helped one another. Despite our financial struggles, our doors were always open to offer warmth and food to anyone in need. I grew up with that mentality.

You often hear the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” For me, that was certainly true. I am very attached to my village and its people. I now live in Edmundston, but I return to Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska as often as possible.

How did your upbringing influence your political involvement?

Many people came to our house, so there were often political discussions at home. I overheard these conversations, and they intrigued me. I remember hearing one such discussion between my father and my uncles Léo and Émile, and at one point I said to them, “Well, one day I’ll be mayor of the village of Sainte-Anne.” I think they would be very surprised to see that little Pierrette, as they called me, is now a senator!

My mother, who passed away five years ago, just two months shy of her 104^th birthday, shaped my fundamental values and beliefs. When I first entered politics at the age of 31, she was terrified. She believed it wasn’t a place for women and expected I would suffer a crushing defeat. But to her surprise, that wasn’t the case. From then on, she began to follow all my political activities and realized that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Discovering one’s calling is no simple feat, but I consider myself fortunate to have found mine at a relatively young age, largely due to the recruitment efforts of former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna. He encouraged me to run in the provincial election. I was elected in 1987, running against Percy Mockler — who also became a senator — and I was re-elected in 1991.

How did you decide to run for Parliament in Madawaska—Victoria?

In 1993, I received a call from Sheila Copps, who was a member of Parliament at the time. She asked me if I wanted to run in the federal election.

A few weeks later, Jean Chrétien himself, then leader of the Liberal Party, called me. Honestly, I didn’t think it was really him; I thought someone was playing a prank on me!

I finally decided to go for it and run against a senior minister. It was a tough battle. On election night, I was at the Radio-Canada studios when the host announced the former minister had won. I refused to concede defeat because the votes from a major Liberal stronghold had not yet been counted. And finally, late in the evening, I had won.

Had you ever met Mr. Chrétien before that call?

No, I had never met him, but he was a very important politician to me. When he referred to himself as the “little guy from Shawinigan,” it was clear that he had never forgotten his roots. I found that very relatable.

I care deeply about the people in my community. Even though I haven’t lived there for quite some time, I still feel a deep connection. I am Brayonne — a blend of Acadian and Quebecois heritage from northwestern New Brunswick. My roots are Quebecois, Acadian and Mi’kmaq.

From left, Senator Ringuette, former senator Jean-Guy Dagenais, former senator Nancy J. Hartling and Senator Victor Boudreau at the Senate of Canada Building in 2024. (Photo handout: Office of Senator Pierrette Ringuette)

Senator Ringuette presents New Brunswick resident Armand Dionne with a certificate of congratulations on his 90^th birthday. Mr. Dionne, second from the left, stands with his wife, Léola Dionne, and New Brunswick MLA Chuck Chiasson. (Photo handout: Office of Senator Pierrette Ringuette)

Jim Cuddy, lead singer of Blue Rodeo, poses with Senator Ringuette during a visit to the Senate Chamber. (Photo handout: Office of Senator Pierrette Ringuette)

You have been active in various parliamentary associations, including the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas. Why is this so important to you?

It’s crucial for me to stay informed about global events and to connect with fellow parliamentarians from around the world. These connections are valuable, both personally and for our nation.

Canada is widely respected internationally. We have always been a nation that values engagement over isolation. Discussions on trade and hemispheric security are central to our parliamentary diplomacy.

Since your appointment to the Senate, you have repeatedly introduced bills to reduce criminal interest rates. Why has this issue been a priority for you?

The criminal interest rate in Canada used to be capped at 60%, allowing lenders to charge as high as 59.9% interest. This seemed like outright theft and an abuse of the most vulnerable people. It was unacceptable. I took action by introducing a bill four times to address this issue. Finally, in 2023, after a decade of lobbying various governments and finance ministers, and speaking out publicly, Chrystia Freeland, the finance minister at the time, made a change. She successfully passed a government bill that reduced the criminal interest rate to 35% per year. While still high, it’s a much more reasonable rate and better aligns with other countries.

Senator Ringuette meets King Charles III during the Royal Visit and the Speech from the Throne on May 27, 2025. (Photo handout: Office of Senator Pierrette Ringuette)