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OTTAWA — Ontario Conservative MP Scott Aitchison announced Wednesday he will resign his seat of Parry Sound-Muskoka at the end of the fall parliamentary sitting.
In a letter released to constituents, Aitchison said he will explore other opportunities after 30 years of public life.
Aitchison ran for the party leadership in 2022 and has served as the Opposition housing critic. He was a municipal councillor and then mayor of Huntsville, Ont., for 25 years before running for the Conservatives federally in 2019.
Aitchison’s impending resignation was first reported by The Hill Times on Tuesday.
He is set to become the 12th member of Parliament to resign since January and the eighth to leave the Conservative caucus in the last 11 months.
Four Conservatives crossed the floor to join the Liberals: Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont was the first to exit last November, followed over the next several months by Ontario MPs Michael Ma and Marilyn Gladu, and Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux.
Quebec MP Richard Martel left in the summer for a Senate appointment. Saskatchewan’s Cathay Wagantall and Ontario’s Larry Brock both resigned within the last month.
Aitchison said it has been the “honour of his lifetime” to serve the people of his community for the last three decades.
“To the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka who placed their trust in me, and those who I disagreed with but promised passionate representation to, I hope I have made you proud,” Aitchison said in his resignation letter.
“I want to thank my incredible staff who have served me and the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka with distinction. None of this would have been possible without you.”
He closed his statement by thanking his Conservative colleagues and calling on them to continue to “champion efforts to make life more affordable for all Canadians.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre thanked Aitchison for his public service in a statement, and wished him all the best in his next chapter.
“Scott’s greatest strength has always been his connection to his home. Whether fighting for local workers and businesses, helping people navigate the federal government, or championing a community fund to support housing, food security and mental health in Parry Sound-Muskoka, he never forgot who sent him to Ottawa,” Poilievre said.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said Aitchison has been a “delight to work with” and she’s sure he will continue to support the party’s efforts to hold the government to account.
“There’s always change in any Parliament. Our fall focus as a party is on pressing the government on issues of affordability, on immigration, as I’m doing today, jobs,” she told a press conference on Tuesday.
Aitchison also earned praise from politicians from across the aisle.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said on X that Aitchison “is a true class act and proof of what we jointly wrote in an (opinion article), ‘You can disagree without being disagreeable.'”
Former Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara said Aitchison improved the quality of the debate on housing and was “always a gentleman with MPs from all sides of the House.”
There are currently six vacancies in the House of Commons requiring byelections. The votes must be scheduled within six months of a seat becoming vacant.
Elections Canada estimates a byelection costs about $2 million, but that figure can vary depending on the riding.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2026.
David Baxter, The Canadian Press
