KINGSTON, Ont. - The NDP is apologizing for a biography that stated a rookie MP obtained a diploma from an Ontario college -- when, in fact, she hadn't.
The party defended Quebec MP-elect Ruth Ellen Brosseau on Tuesday, saying a staffer modified her online biography without her permission.
"We're sorry for this error and regret the harm done to Ms. Brosseau," NDP spokesman Marc-Andre Viau wrote in an email.
Brosseau made national headlines for vacationing in Las Vegas during the election campaign.
The NDP said Brosseau never actually told them she had earned a diploma from the school, and only stated that she had studied there.
The party added that the single mother is two credits shy of completing the program, but had to cut her studies short to return to Ottawa to care for her son.
The NDP released the statement after St. Lawrence College denied that Brosseau ever earned a diploma in advertising and integrated marketing communications from the school -- even though it's included in her NDP biography. The website has since been modified.
"She is not a graduate of St. Lawrence College," said Gord MacDougall, vice-president of student and external affairs.
"She did attend the college, but she did not finish her course of studies."
MacDougall said the school was asked to investigate Brosseau's record by a media outlet.
"We can't disclose specific information about our students without their permission, but this one came to our attention that the claim was made publicly," he said.
When asked if St. Lawrence has concerns over false claims that someone earned a diploma there, he replied: "Of course, we do."
"We've had employers ask in the past whether we can validate somebody's credential," MacDougall said.
"This is part of the review process, if asked."
The 27-year-old Brosseau cruised to a stunning election-night victory in the central Quebec seat of Berthier-Maskinonge, even though she never set foot in the riding.
The NDP has acknowledged that she must improve her French skills to represent a riding that is 98-per-cent francophone.
Brosseau lives in the Ottawa area, some 300 kilometres away from the region.
