Parry Sound—Muskoka Member of Parliament Scott Aitchison has been appointed Muskoka District Chair by the Ontario government.
Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, made the announcement on Nov. 10, alongside the appointments of new heads of council for Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York regions, as well as Simcoe County.
The decision follows Aitchison’s announcement on social media in late September that he would resign from his seat in the House of Commons by the end of November after serving seven years as the area’s member of parliament.
Muskoka-Parry Sound MPP Graydon Smith shared in a statement that Aitchison brings extensive experience and a proven track record of public service to the role.
“Having served as a Huntsville Town Councillor, District Councillor, Mayor of Huntsville and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound–Muskoka, Scott knows our communities, understands the issues that matter to local residents and has longstanding relationships across the District,” he said.
Smith said Aitchison’s extensive municipal experience, combined with his leadership on housing policy at the federal level, makes him exceptionally well qualified to help address the challenges facing Muskoka, particularly housing affordability, infrastructure needs and responsible growth.
“I am confident he will provide strong, effective leadership that reflects the unique needs of Muskoka’s communities, and I look forward to working closely with him and District Council to advance our shared priorities,” said Smith.
In his statement, Smith also thanked outgoing District Chair Jeff Lehman for his service over the past four years and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Flack said these appointments are equipped with powers to streamline decision-making, improve efficiency, strengthen alignment with provincial priorities, including housing and infrastructure, and introduce upper-tier budgets.
“As Heads of Council, they will foster collaboration across municipalities, support responsible growth and ensure services are delivered efficiently, so that these communities remain great places to live, work and raise a family.”
Aitchison will be sworn in as District Chair on Dec. 1.
