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Scott Armstrong (politician)

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Scott Armstrong
Armstrong in 2018
Member of Parliament
for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley
In office
November 9, 2009 – October 19, 2015
Preceded byBill Casey
Succeeded byBill Casey
Personal details
Born (1966-07-09) July 9, 1966 (age 58)
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyConservative
ProfessionActing Principal

David Scott Armstrong (born July 9, 1966) is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a Conservative member to represent the electoral district of Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley in the federal by-elections on November 9, 2009. He served until his defeat in the 2015 election.

After his defeat in the 2015 election, Armstrong was appointed as the official opposition critic on Atlantic Canadian issues and ACOA and was the only official opposition critic who was not a member of parliament.[1]

On September 15, 2016, it was announced that Armstrong would return to full-time teaching and relinquish his posts with the Conservative Party.[2]

Background

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Armstrong graduated from Cobequid Education Centre in 1984. He graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Arts. He then went on to earn a Master of Social Science Education from Florida State University and studied at the University of Southern Mississippi as well.

Armstrong has served as a school administrator for over 15 years. Armstrong was principal at Tatamagouche Elementary School in the early 2000s. He was also principal at Truro Elementary School in 2008 and 2009. After his election defeat in 2015 Armstrong returned to his career as an educator. He served as Principal at Great Village Elementary School in 2016/2017, Principal of Debert Elementary 2017/2018, Principal of South Colchester Academy (High School) 2018/2019, Principal of Debert Elementary 2019/2020, and South Colchester Academy 2020/2021.[3] After a two-year secondment as Chair Elect for the Board of Directors of the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia,[4] Armstrong returned to South Colchester Academy for the 2024/2025 school year.[5]

Personal life

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Armstrong is married to Tammy Stewart.

Community involvement

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Armstrong is a volunteer on the Children's Aid Society Board and the Hospital Foundation Board.[6] Armstrong is a former president and longstanding volunteer of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, and volunteer with the Conservative Party.[6]

Political career

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Following the resignation of then independent Bill Casey in April 2009 as the Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley,[7] Armstrong was nominated as the Conservative Party candidate for the byelection to replace him.[8] On November 9, 2009, Armstrong won the byelection, receiving 45.8% of the vote.[9][10] He was re-elected in the 2011 federal election, receiving 52.5% of the vote.[11] In September 2012, Armstrong was named chairman of the federal Conservative Atlantic caucus, replacing New Brunswick MP Mike Allen.[12][13] In the 2015 federal election, Armstrong was defeated by Liberal Bill Casey.[14][15][16]

40th Parliament

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Armstrong served as a member on the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.[17]

During the 40th Parliament, Armstrong sponsored a Private Member's Bill, Bill C-636 – An Act Respecting the Marine Mammals Regulations (Seal Fishery Observation Licence). The bill would have increased the distance that a person must maintain from another person who is fishing for seals. Bill C-636 did not go beyond first reading.[18]

41st Parliament

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Armstrong served as a member on the Legislative Committee on Bill C-11, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates and its Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and its Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedures, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and its Subcommittee on Private Members' Business, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities, and its Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.[17]

Armstrong served as Member of Panel of Chairs from September 28, 2011 to September 13, 2013.

Armstrong was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development on September 19, 2013.[17]

Post-parliamentary career

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After his defeat and because the Conservatives did not elect a single MP in the 32 seats of Atlantic Canada during the 2015 election, Armstrong was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Atlantic Canada and ACOA by Acting Conservative Leader of the Opposition Rona Ambrose. Armstrong was the only Official Opposition critic who was not a member of either the House of Commons or the Senate.

Armstrong worked as a paid staffer in the office of the Leader of the Opposition and spent his time between Ottawa and Atlantic Canada but was based in Nova Scotia. The position paid approximately $60,000 per year out of Ambrose's office budget. He spoke for the Conservatives on the region.[1]

On September 15, 2016, Armstrong relinquished his position with Ambrose's office and as critic to return to full-time teaching.[2]

He re-contested the riding of Cumberland—Colchester in the 2019 federal election but lost narrowly to Liberal candidate Lenore Zann.[19]

On October 21, 2024, Armstrong was nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley for the next Nova Scotia provincial election.[20]

Electoral record

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2019 Canadian federal election: Cumberland—Colchester
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Lenore Zann 16,672 36.68 −27.05 $91,456.57
Conservative Scott Armstrong 16,219 35.69 +9.23 none listed
Green Jason Blanch 6,015 13.23 +9.67 $9,366.06
New Democratic Larry Duchesne 5,451 11.99 +6.28 $3,860.15
People's William Archer 608 1.34 New none listed
Independent Matthew V. Rushton 232 0.51 New none listed
Veterans Coalition Jody O'Blenis 144 0.32 New none listed
National Citizens Alliance Stephen J. Garvey 109 0.24 New none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,450 99.03   $104,050.86
Total rejected ballots 447 0.97 +0.59
Turnout 45,897 68.54 −2.51
Eligible voters 66,967
Liberal hold Swing −18.14
Source: Elections Canada[21]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Bill Casey 29,527 63.73 +45.35 $94,835.51
Conservative Scott Armstrong 12,257 26.45 –26.48 $155,677.03
New Democratic Wendy Robinson 2,647 5.71 –16.76 $21,393.25
Green Jason Matthew Blanch 1,650 3.56 –1.81 $8,721.38
Independent Kenneth Jackson 181 0.39 – –
Independent Richard Trueman Plett 70 0.15 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 46,332 99.62   $207,024.53
Total rejected ballots 178 0.38
Turnout 46,510 71.64
Eligible voters 64,923
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +35.91
Source: Elections Canada[22][23]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Scott Armstrong 21,041 52.46 +6.62 $84,480.51
New Democratic Wendy Robinson 9,322 23.24 -2.49 $10,734.51
Liberal Jim Burrows 7,264 18.11 -3.21 $34,804.26
Green Jason Blanch 2,109 5.26 +1.95 $5,762.34
Christian Heritage Jim Hnatiuk 375 0.93 -2.26 $5,478.83
Total valid votes/Expense limit 40,111 100.00   $87,350.74
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 256 0.63 +0.23
Turnout 40,367 58.34 +22.53
Eligible voters 69,188
Conservative hold Swing +4.56
Changes based on 2009 by-election results.
Sources:[24][25]
Canadian federal by-election, November 9, 2009
On the resignation of Bill Casey, 11 September 2009
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Scott Armstrong 11,167 45.84 +37.01 $85,124.62
New Democratic Mark Austin 6,267 25.73 +13.41 $70,020.79
Liberal Jim Burrows 5,193 21.32 +12.87 $59,031.48
Green Jason Blanch 807 3.31 – $3,338.63
Christian Heritage Jim Hnatiuk 778 3.19 – $61,482.45
Independent Kate Graves 149 0.61 – $1,108.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit 24,361 100.0     $86,242
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 97 0.40 -0.11
Turnout 24,458 35.81 -21.96
Eligible voters 68,304
Conservative gain from Independent Swing +11.80

References

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  1. ^ a b Paul Withers (November 20, 2015). "Rona Ambrose appoints Scott Armstrong to shadow Conservative cabinet". CBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Kady O'Malley (15 September 2016). "Candice Bergen takes over as House leader in Conservative critic shuffle". Ottawa Citizen.
  3. ^ "About". Member of Parliament - Scott Armstrong.
  4. ^ "Scott Armstrong - Chair Elect | PSAANS". www.psaans.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  5. ^ "Principal's Welcome Letter". sca.ccrce.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  6. ^ a b "Member of Parliament – Scott Armstrong". Conservative Party of Canada. Archived from the original on 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  7. ^ "Turfed Tory Casey to be Nova Scotia's chief lobbyist in Ottawa". CBC News. April 28, 2009. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  8. ^ "Conservative Party Candidate Scott Armstrong welcomes by-election call by Prime Minister Stephen Harper". The Truro Daily News. October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. ^ "Conservatives, Bloc Québécois score byelection wins". CBC News. November 9, 2009. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  10. ^ "By-elections November 9, 2009 – Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  11. ^ "Canada Votes 2011: Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley". CBC News. May 2, 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  12. ^ "MP Scott Armstrong appointed chair of Tory Atlantic caucus". CTV News. September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  13. ^ "N.S.'s Armstrong named Atlantic Conservative caucus chair". CBC News. September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  14. ^ "Bill Casey snatches Cumberland-Colchester from Conservatives". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  15. ^ "Bill Casey 'glad to be part of the change'". The Chronicle Herald. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  16. ^ "Bill Casey takes Liberal seat in historic Cumberland-Colchester win". Global News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  17. ^ a b c "Members of Parliament – Scott Armstrong – Roles". Parliament of Canada.
  18. ^ "Private Member's Bill – C-636: An Act respecting the Marine Mammals Regulations (seal fishery observation licence)". Parliament of Canada.
  19. ^ "Zann declared winner over Armstrong in a nail-biter that goes into the early morning hours". SaltWire Network. October 22, 2019. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  20. ^ "Armstrong wins PC nomination in Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley". Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia. October 24, 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  21. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  22. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Cumberland—Colchester (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  23. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Elections Canada – Official voting results, Forty-first general election, 2011
  25. ^ Elections Canada – Candidate's electoral campaign return, 41st general election
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