The voices of those who voted in the Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley byelection Monday Nov. 9 have been heard and Conservative candidate Scott Armstrong will take his place in Ottawa to represent the riding as its new Member of Parliament.
Armstrong has held strong ties in the riding for many years as elementary school principal, basketball coach, volunteer and president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia. The 43-year-old was the clear winner gaining 11,167 votes (45.8 per cent).
NDP candidate Mark Austin came second with 6,267 votes (25.7 per cent). Jim Burrows of the Liberal Party placed third holding 5,193 votes (21.3 per cent). Green Party candidate Jason Blanch followed with 807 votes (3.3 per cent). Jim Hnatiuk of the Christian Heritage Party was not far behind earning 776 votes (3.2 per cent). Independent candidate Kate Graves received 149 votes (.06 per cent).
Armstrong plans to set up offices in Truro, Amherst and Ottawa so that he can be available to the people of his riding and represent them with “honour and integrity” in Parliament.
At the all candidates’ debate in Pugwash Oct. 28, Armstrong said he would act as a “strong, local voice for lower taxes”, support the riding’s aging community, the students who are facing “crushing debts”, and protect the agriculture, fishing and forestry industries.
In his closing statement he said, “I believe the Conservative Party is capable of building a strong, secure Canada.” It seems his constituents agree.
Historically, Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley has voted blue with Tories winning 16 of the past 18 elections in the riding. However, in the past voter turnout was much higher.
The byelection saw only 24,359 people hit the polling stations. The number of registered voters in the riding is 68,172, which means less than 36% of eligible voters chose to exercise their right to participate in the democratic process.
The election in November of 2007 saw 38,597 (62.3 per cent) voters come out to the polls. In June of 1997, almost 70 per cent of the riding cast their votes. Both elections turned out in favour of Bill Casey who received more than 18,000 votes each time.