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 Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Party	Conservative
Education	York University
Profession	Realtor, Mayor, Politician
Website	www.votescott.ca

Scott Aitchison (/ˈeɪtʃɪsən/ AY-chiss-ən, born January 14, 1973) is a Canadian politician who has served as the member of Parliament for Parry Sound—Muskoka since 2019. A member of the Conservative Party, he previously served as the mayor of Huntsville, Ontario from 2014 to 2019.

Aitchison unsuccessfully ran for leadership of the Conservative Party and placed last in the 2022 election.

Early career

In his early years, Aitchison worked in sales with Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate, and Fowler Construction. He was previously a consultant with Enterprise Canada Group from 1998 to 2004.

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

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.

Federal politics

Aitchison won the Conservative nomination in 2019, defeating three other candidates, 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.

In December 2021, Aitchison worked 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 incorporated a previously tabled private member’s bill from Conservative MP Tom Kmiec into the government’s legislation. O'Regan described the cross-party support was a rarity.

On March 3, 2022, it was reported that Aitchison was preparing a bid for leadership of the Conservative Party. Aitchison officially launched his campaign on March 20 at a rally in Huntsville. He placed last, earning just one per cent of the vote, losing to Pierre Poilievre.

Aitchison is currently serving as party's critic for housing, diversity, and inclusion.

On September 30, 2026, Aitchison announced he would resign his seat in Parliament by the end of the year.

Political positions

During the 2022 leadership race, Aitchison was characterized as a centrist. However, he prefers to see himself as a "small-c conservative".

Political polarization

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

Housing

Aitchison started his leadership campaign by releasing a plan to address what he described as a Canadian housing crisis. His plan, "YIMBY: A Plan to Build More Homes for Canadians", had 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.

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."

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.

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.

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".

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". 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.

Personal life

At the time of the 2025 Canadian federal election, he lived in Baysville, Ontario.

Electoral record

Federal

2025 Canadian federal election: Parry Sound—Muskoka
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Scott Aitchison	33,742	52.2	+4.27
	Liberal	Geordie Sabbagh	27,563	42.6	+21.1
	New Democratic	Heather Hay	2,300	3.6	–13.3
	People's	Isabel Pereira	1,048	1.6	–5.9
Total valid votes/expense limit			64,653
Total rejected ballots			353
Turnout			65,006	71.43
Eligible voters			91,006
Source: Elections Canada

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%

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

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

Municipal

2014 Huntsville mayoral election
Candidate	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