Scott Armstrong (politician)

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.

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

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]

In the 2024 Nova Scotia general election, he was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.^[3]

Background

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.^[4] After a two-year secondment as Chair Elect for the Board of Directors of the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia,^[5] Armstrong returned to South Colchester Academy for the 2024/2025 school year.^[6]

Personal life

Armstrong is married to Tammy Stewart.

Community involvement

Armstrong is a volunteer on the Children's Aid Society Board and the Hospital Foundation Board.^[7] Armstrong is a former president and longstanding volunteer of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, and volunteer with the Conservative Party.^[7]

Political career

Following the resignation of then independent Bill Casey in April 2009 as the Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley,^[8] Armstrong was nominated as the Conservative Party candidate for the byelection to replace him.^[9] On November 9, 2009, Armstrong won the byelection, receiving 45.8% of the vote.^[10][11] He was re-elected in the 2011 federal election, receiving 52.5% of the vote.^[12] In September 2012, Armstrong was named chairman of the federal Conservative Atlantic caucus, replacing New Brunswick MP Mike Allen.^[13][14] In the 2015 federal election, Armstrong was defeated by Liberal Bill Casey.^[15][16][17]

40th Parliament

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.^[18]

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.^[19]

41st Parliament

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.^[18]

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.^[18]

Post-parliamentary career

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.^[20]

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

On November 26th, 2024, he won his seat in the 42nd Nova Scotia Provincial Election for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley. ^[22]

Electoral record

v t e 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[23]

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[24][25]

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:[26][27]

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