Scott Aitchison

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Scott Aitchison
MP
File:Scott Aitchison (cropped).jpg
Aitchison in 2014
Member of Parliament
for Parry Sound—Muskoka
Assumed office
October 21, 2019
Preceded byTony Clement
Mayor of Huntsville
In office
2014–2019
Personal details
Born (1973-01-14) January 14, 1973 (age 51)[1]
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative Party of Canada
ResidenceHuntsville, Ontario[2]
Alma materYork University[3]

Scott Aitchison MP (born January 14, 1973[1]) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Parry Sound—Muskoka in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[4] Prior to his election, he served as mayor of Huntsville, Ontario since 2014.[5]

Municipal politics

Aitchison was first elected to Huntsville Council in 1994 at the age of 21, where he served for three terms. At the time, he was the the youngest individual ever elected to Huntsville Town Council and Muskoka District Council. He was elected again as a District and Town Councillor in 2010 and was Deputy Mayor for the next four years. He was elected Mayor in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.[6]

Federal politics

Aitchison won the Conservative nomination in 2019, defeating 3 other contenders[7], and subsequently won the general election in October of the same year. After winning re-election in 2021, Aitchison was appointed to the Official Oppositon Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Labour.[8]

In December 2021, Aitchison worked directly with Liberal Minister Seamus O'Regan to include in Government Bill C-3 an extension of bereavement leave for grieving parents who work in federally regulated industries. This change thereby incorporated a previously tabled private member’s bill from Conservative MP Tom Kmiec into the government’s legislation. O'Regan said that the display of cross-party support was a rarity.[9]

On March 3, 2022 it was reported that Aitchison was prepparing a bid for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada with a campaign focused around character and tone.[10]

Private sector

Aitchison worked in sales with Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate and Fowler Construction. He was also previously a consultant with Enterprise Canada Group from 1998-2004.

He was a Co-Chair of the organizing committee for the 2012 Ontario Para Winter Games in Hunstville.[11]

Political positions

Rural broadband

In his first intervention in the House of Commons, Aitchison raised concern about rural internet service in his riding. He believes there needs to be more competition in the market and federal investment in underserviced areas.[12]

Online Streaming Act

Aitchison is vocal in his opposition to the Online Streaming Act. In the 43rd Parliament, he expressed his concern with the CRTC having the ability to regulate individual Canadians’ content on social media.[13]

CANZUK

Aitchison is supportive of CANZUK, a proposed alliance of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to increase trade, foreign policy, and military co-operarion. He was named to lead two cross-party working groups aimed to facilitate discussions on freer movement and trade within the partner countries.[14]

Environment

Aitchison is an advocate for a credible federal climate change plan-particularly one that permits industry to find innovative methods of reducing emissions. He is opposed to a carbon tax, stating that it “disproportionally hurts lower-income Canadians living in rural areas”.[15]

Political polarization

During the Canada convoy protest Aitchison expressed his concern with what he describes as the “growing divide in Canada” and has criticized Justin Trudeau for not talking to Canadians he disagrees with.[16] While delivering a speech in the House of Commons, Aitchison stated his desire to see politicians find compromise and “disagree without hating each other.”[17]

Electoral record

Federal

2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Scott Aitchison 26,600 47.9 +6.1
Liberal Jovanie Nicoyishakiye 12,014 21.6 -8.8
New Democratic Heather Hay 9,339 16.8 +5.1
People's James Tole 4,184 7.5
Green Marc Mantha 3,099 5.6 -9.8
Independent Daniel Predie Jr 169 0.3 -0.4
National Citizens Alliance James Fawcett 95 0.2
Total valid votes 55,500
Total rejected ballots 299
Turnout 55,799 65.01
Eligible voters 85,831
Source: Elections Canada[18]


2019 Canadian federal election: Parry Sound—Muskoka
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Scott Aitchison 22,845 41.8 -1.50 $77,914.80
Liberal Trisha Cowie 16,615 30.4 -8.48 $71,267.46
Green Gord Miller 8,409 15.4 +8.18 $55,284.74
New Democratic Tom Young 6,417 11.7 +1.59 none listed
Independent Daniel Predie Jr 377 0.7 – none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 54,663 100.0
Total rejected ballots 392
Turnout 55,055 66.4
Eligible voters 82,930
Conservative hold Swing +3.49
Source: Elections Canada[19][20]

Municipal

2014 Huntsville mayoral election
Mayoral Candidate [21] Vote %
Scott Aitchison 3,708 45.39
Hugh Mackenzie 2,264 27.71
Tim Withey 2,198 26.90
2018 Huntsville mayoral election
Candidate Vote %
Scott Aitchison 5,318 81.83
Peggy Peterson 1,181 18.17

References

  1. ^ a b "Scott Mr. Scott Aitchison, M.P." House of Commons of Canada.
  2. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Scott Aitchison on LinkedIn
  4. ^ "Canada election results: Parry Sound—Muskoka". October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison is ready to hit the campaign trail". MuskotaRegion.com. April 2, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Past Mayors of Huntsville". huntsville.ca.
  7. ^ https://www.myparrysoundnow.com/49914/aitchison-takes-conservative-nomination-for-parry-sound-muskoka/
  8. ^ Bay 88.7FM, The. "MP Scott Aitchison Announced as Conservative Shadow Minister of Labour". The Bay 88.7FM.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Woolf, Marie (December 21, 2021). "Liberals, Tories co-operate on extending leave for grieving parents". CTVNews.
  10. ^ "Conservative MP Scott Aitchison preparing a bid for party leadership - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News.
  11. ^ "Bidding on Games". p80.ca.
  12. ^ "The current state of rural internet service is unacceptable: MP Scott Aitchison". September 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Karadeglija, Anja (May 1, 2021). "Liberals shut down debate on Bill C-10 amendment allowing regulation of social media content".
  14. ^ Sitler, Matthew. "MP Scott Aitchison Named Lead on CANZUK Working Groups".
  15. ^ "We must protect the natural environment locally and do our part globally: MP Scott Aitchison". April 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "I have never seen our country more divided: MP Scott Aitchison". February 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Publication Search". www.ourcommons.ca.
  18. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  19. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  21. ^ "List of Candidates (Non-Certified)". huntsville.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
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