Giovanna Mingarelli will be the new Member of Parliament (MP) for Prescott-Russell-Cumberland.
The Liberal candidate won the riding in the Monday, April 28 federal election.
Mingarelli was ahead as results continued to come in, 30 minutes after the polls closed at 9:30 pm. At around 10:30 pm, results indicated Mingarelli had won, and outgoing Liberal MP Francis Drouin announced to supporters gathered at Broadway Bar and Grill in Rockland that Mingarelli would be his successor.
Speaking to supporters, Mingarelli thanked her volunteers, supporters, and family, including her husband, Brandon. Mingarelli specifically thanked Drouin and former MP Don Boudria for their support throughout the campaign.
“I have the distinct honour to say I will be the next Member of Parliament in Prescott-Russell-Cumberland!” Mingarelli excitedly told the audience.
She noted that she is the first woman to represent the region federally and said it is a great achievement after years of working to ensure more women are elected. Mingarelli previously worked for Equal Voice, which advocates nationally for more women to be elected to political office.
Mingarelli grew up in Rockland and attended École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Trinité and Rockland District High School. Her first job at 14 was at the Rockland Golf Club, before starting her professional career on Parliament Hill, working for former Prime Minister Paul Martin. She has spent the last decade working in a multi-partisan capacity to advance issues related to women and youth’s economic and political empowerment.
“It’s fitting we’re celebrating in Rockland, the place where I grew up,” she said.
“This is where I want to spend more of my life, spread roots, and start a family with Brandon,” she remarked.
Mingarelli is an award-winning technology entrepreneur and the owner of several businesses. Her business career includes communications consulting to organizations and governments striving to measure and showcase their positive impact. She is currently writing a book with Forbes magazine about her entrepreneurial journey to date. Due to her husband’s diplomatic career, Mingarelli has also lived in the US and Europe.
The issue of tariffs and threats to Canada’s economic and political sovereignty from the Trump administration in the US were the issues Mingarelli said will remain the biggest items of concern for the new government, to be led by Mark Carney as Prime Minister.
“I will work with Prime Minister Mark Carney to stand up to Trump,” she said.
As further trade negotiations with the US administration loom, Mingarelli assured the sizeable agricultural community in Prescott-Russell-Cumberland that their interests will be defended.
“I will be a forceful defender of supply chain management,” she said.
Mingarelli said Carney is the right choice for leading Canada during complicated times in the relationship with the US administration.
Meanwhile, Mingarelli is looking forward to taking her seat in the House of Commons.
“I can’t wait to get to Ottawa and be sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Prescott-Russell-Cumberland and get to work!” she exclaimed.
According to Mingarelli, residents of the district can expect reliable, attentive representation from their new MP. She is planning to continue the commitment to constituent needs established by Drouin. All constituency offices will remain open in their current locations. Mingarelli is planning to attend community events and learn about local organizations.
“That’s part of what I do. I’m a community builder,” she remarked.
The new MP-elect described herself as a “community person” who wants to contribute in a way that is meaningful.
As of 12:42 am on Tuesday, April 29, 250 of 260 polling stations had reported. Mingarelli had received 34,567 votes. Conservative candidate Julie Séguin had 26,080 votes, and New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Ryder Finlay had 1,557 votes. Thaila Riden of the Green Party had 781 votes, followed by People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Deborah Perrier with 705 votes. Independent candidate Jason St-Louis had received 216 votes.
Early on Tuesday morning, it was projected the Liberals under Mark Carney would form a minority government with 165 seats in the 343 seat House of Commons. The Conservatives will form the Official Opposition with 147 seats, and the Bloc Québécois was in third place with 23 seats. The NDP had won just seven seats, and one seat had been won by the Green Party.
