For the past 6 months, I traveled across the country as a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. I met Canadians in every province of this great nation who are worried about the direction we are headed. Canadians are facing an affordability crisis – struggling to keep up with the cost of food, housing, and gas. They are worried about protecting our rights and freedoms both at home and abroad.
I presented a platform to address the issues Canadians are dealing with everyday. My campaign was based on three goals; make life more affordable, keep Canada strong and free, and defend Canadian values. I’m extraordinarily proud of my campaign — a campaign based on hope and respect, solid conservative principles, and a vision for a better Canada.
I am extremely grateful and blessed for the support of thousands of Canadians who purchased memberships, donated to my campaign, and voted for me as leader. I am especially thankful to the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka. Without the support of the amazing people of our region this campaign would not have been possible.
When I found myself back at home this summer so many of you stopped me and wished me well, offered me advice, and encouraged me to continue running a positive and unifying campaign with solid policy ideas focused on solving the challenges of our time. To all of you, I say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The Conservative Party of Canada has chosen Pierre Poilievre as our new Leader. Pierre has hit the ground running and I am excited to work with him and the rest of our Conservative team in Ottawa to deliver on his plan to get Canada back on track.
What I am most excited about is to continue my work as your Member of Parliament and your voice in Ottawa. The top priority for me is, and always will be, the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka.
The House of Commons resumes next week. I will be returning to Ottawa to advocate for solutions to the problems facing our riding and our country. With Pierre as our Leader, the Conservative team has already called for no new taxes on workers and seniors, and an end to out-of-control government spending.
I promise to support smart policies that make life in Parry Sound-Muskoka more affordable, and that ensure everyone in our region has a shot at success. I am looking forward to seeing people over the coming months all over Parry Sound-Muskoka.
(Photo of Parliament Hill by festivio on Pixabay. Photo of Scott Aitchison courtesy of Scott Aitchison.)
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With the environmental crisis being low on the Conservative Platform and the necessity for it to be of paramount importance, Scott please change parties. We need you.
There is the adage that, ‘if you don’t like being in a hole, stop digging.’
Spin those numbers ’til the nuts drop off, and still, a debt, is a debt, is a debt. Was it necessary is a moot point, but why argue, because it is here now. This massive debt.
To say one would like to leave something for our children and grandchildren is soul self serving, inasmuch as we are the ones who are leaving this mess for them. Hopefully they will find a way to deal with what we have create.
Maybe we should have stuck to ‘sex and drugs and rock and roll.’
Ps Dave Wilkin, why is Canada one of only 9 countries with a “AAA stable” credit rating?
Must be because our government is not doing a good job?
Dave Wilkin, it depends on which economist you follow. Gross debt is what we owe ourselves and others. Net debt is what we owe others. “Gross debt is intragovernmental, so it has no direct impact on a single government’s economy. Net debt, on the other hand, affects a country’s interest rates, so it is more significant to measure when evaluating a country’s economy and how it affects its citizens directly.”
Jim Logagianes, I try to be an objective, fair, and open-minded person who is not married to any political ideology. I believe in giving credit where credit is due and in planning for the long term. I have voted Conservative for most of my life, but I just don’t see that today’s Republican and Conservative policies, that have shifted too far right, and are focused mainly on protecting the wealthy at any cost, can solve today’s enormous and growing problems such as climate change.
In the time I have left, I want to do what I can to ensure that our 7 grandchildren and yours still have a livable planet in 30 years. I don’t see today’s mean-spirited and short-sighted Conservative policies doing that. Life is not all about the stock market and the economy. But after 7 years of Liberal government, including almost 3 years of a global Covid-19 pandemic, with no thanks to Conservative leaders, especially Poilievre, Canada has the highest vaccination rate among similar G7 countries, resulting in by far the lowest death rate (except for the isolated island of Japan). And even after a strong Covid control and relief program, Canada still has by far the lowest net debt as a percentage of GDP. Please check out the numbers for yourself. If Conservatives can come up with something better, I will gladly vote for them, but their recent shift even further to the right does nothing to inspire thinking people.
Hugh, our net debt this government likes to talk about is a problematic measure, especially when it comes to looking at debt in context of rising interest rates and stress on government budgets. Total government debt is far better to use, and on that measure, Canada sits at #24 out of 31 industrialized countries, according to the IMF. Further, if Gross Debt is considered, which adds private sector and non-federal government debt, we are even lower on the list.
The article below explains why net debt is problematic
https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-despite-what-ottawa-claims-we-are-highly-indebted-compared-to-other-countries
Mr Holland
Most Canadians know that the Federal Liberals spending will have a devastating effect on future generations. The inflationary spiral they have created by printing money will have a detrimental effect on the services we can no longer afford . While we are forced to service the minuscule debt you are referring to.
BTW Hugh are you on Justin’s payroll because you sure spend a lot of time making excuses for him?
You ran an honest, thoughtful and positive campaign, Scott, and you and your team deserve our congratulations and thanks for your contribution to this important process. Hopefully your messages will find their way and influence public policy in the months ahead. Keep up the good work. You are a credit to your riding, your party and our country.
Fact check. Yes Scott, there are lots of things to work on, but contrary to what Mr. Poilievre has been saying, Canada has emerged from 2 years of pandemic with the absolute lowest net debt per capita in the G7.