Scott Aitchison

Scott Aitchison MP
Aitchison in 2022
Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka
Incumbent
Assumed office October 21, 2019
Preceded by	Tony Clement
Mayor of Huntsville
In office December 1, 2014 – October 28, 2019
Preceded by	Claude Doughty
Succeeded by	Karin Terziano
Personal details
Born	(1973-01-14) January 14, 1973 (age 51)[1] Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Conservative
Residence	Huntsville[2]
Alma mater	York University[3]
Profession	Realtor, Mayor, Politician
Website	www.votescott.ca

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 from 2014 until 2019.^[5] Aitchison ran in the 2022 leadership election for the Conservative Party of Canada, coming in last with 1% of the vote.^[6]

Early career

In his early years, Aitchison worked in sales with Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate,^[7] and Fowler Construction. He was also previously a consultant with Enterprise Canada Group from 1998-2004.^{[citation needed]}

He was a co-chair of the organizing committee for the 2012 Ontario Para Winter Games in Huntsville.^[8]

Municipal politics

Aitchison was first elected to the Huntsville Town Council in 1994 at the age of 21, where he served for three terms. At the time, he was the youngest individual ever elected to Huntsville Town Council and Muskoka District Council. He was elected again as a District and Town Councilor in 2010 and was Deputy Mayor for the next four years. He was elected mayor in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He served the office until October 28, 2019.^[9]

Federal politics

Aitchison won the Conservative nomination in 2019, defeating three other candidates,^[10] and subsequently won the general election in October of the same year. After winning re-election in 2021, Aitchison was appointed to the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Labour.^[11]

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.^[12]

On March 3, 2022, it was reported that Aitchison was preparing a bid for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada with a campaign focused around character and tone.^[13] Aitchison officially launched his campaign on March 20 at a rally in Huntsville.^[14] On September 10, it was announced that Pierre Poilievre won the leadership on the first ballot.^[15]

Aitchison is currently serving as party’s critic for diversity and inclusion.^[16]

Political positions

During the 2022 leadership race, Aitchison was characterized as a centrist.^[16] However, he prefers to seem himself as a "small-c conservative".^[16]

Political polarization

During the Canada convoy protest, Aitchison expressed his concern with what he describes as the “growing divide in Canada” and has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of not talking to Canadians he disagrees with.^[17] While delivering a speech in the House of Commons, Aitchison stated his desire to see politicians find compromise and “disagree without hating each other.”^[18]

Housing

Aitchison started his leadership campaign by releasing a detailed plan to address what he believes to be a Canadian housing crisis. His plan, "YIMBY: A Plan to Build More Homes for Canadians", has four main aims: ending exclusionary zoning, increasing the number of tradespeople through education and immigration, increasing affordable and social housing, and cracking down on money laundering in Canadian real-estate.^[19]

Bill 21

Aitchison has spoken out against the 2019 Quebec Act respecting the laicity of the State, also known as Bill 21. In his launch speech for the Conservative Party leadership, Aitchison said, "Our Party has a proud tradition of being a voice for freedom of religion around the world. We need to have the courage of our convictions to do the same here at home, in every province and territory. Freedom of religion is a charter right. This includes the right of every single Canadian to proudly wear a cross, hijab, turban or a kippah at their place of work. Bill 21 is wrong, and I will stand against it."^[20]

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-operation. He was named to lead two cross-party working groups aimed to facilitate discussions on freer movement and trade within the partner countries.^[21]

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.^[22]

Environment

Aitchison is an advocate for what he describes as a credible federal climate change plan that would permit 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".^[23]

LGBTQ+

On May 17, 2023, Aitchison joined fellow Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and members of the federal Liberal Party, Green Party, and NDP in releasing a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Aitchison tweeted, "You belong. You matter. No matter who you are. No matter who you love".^[24] Aitchison told The HIll Times in February 2024 that he supports trans people's right to live without government restrictions, but did not comment on Pierre Poilievre's remarks or Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's policies on trans people.^[25]

Electoral record

Federal

2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership results by ballot

First round (points allocated) Poilievre   68.15% Charest   16.07% Lewis   9.69% Baber   5.03% Aitchison   1.06%

First round (votes cast) Poilievre   70.7% Charest   11.6% Lewis   11.1% Baber   5.4% Aitchison   1.2%

v t e 2021 Canadian federal election: Parry Sound—Muskoka
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Scott Aitchison	26,600	47.9	+6.1	$51,208.95
	Liberal	Jovanie Nicoyishakiye	12,014	21.6	-8.8	$16,882.76
	New Democratic	Heather Hay	9,339	16.8	+5.1	$7,768.65
	People's	James Tole	4,184	7.5	N/A	$4,502.18
	Green	Marc Mantha	3,099	5.6	-9.8	$17,519.77
	Independent	Daniel Predie Jr	169	0.3	-0.4	$0.00
	National Citizens Alliance	James Fawcett	95	0.2	$29.70
Total valid votes			55,500
Total rejected ballots			299
Turnout			55,799	65.01
Eligible voters			85,831
Source: Elections Canada[26]

v t e 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[27][28]

Municipal

2014 Huntsville mayoral election
Candidate [29]	Vote	%
Scott Aitchison	3,708	45.39
Hugh Mackenzie	2,264	27.71
Tim Withey	2,198	26.90

2018 Huntsville mayoral election
Candidate [30]	Vote	%
Scott Aitchison	5,318	81.83
Peggy Peterson	1,181	18.17

References