Opposition leaders question N.S. cabinet minister's trip to Trump inauguration
Scott Armstrong says he was able to meet with officials to lobby against tariffs
Nova Scotia's minister of opportunities and social development says it was important to attend the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January, but opposition leaders are questioning why the trip was not previously announced and what benefit the public actually received.
The Liberals called attention to Scott Armstrong's trip during question period at the legislature on Tuesday.
The minister's expense statement lists the trip as being from Jan. 19-21. The total cost, which included a return flight from Halifax to Washington and two nights at a Hilton hotel in Arlington, Va., was $3,288.47.
"I would argue Nova Scotians didn't really get much for it," interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette told reporters.
Mombourquette said he doesn't understand the lack of notice about the trip or why the province was represented by Armstrong, rather than the cabinet minister responsible for economic development or the premier, who is responsible for trade.
Armstrong told reporters that he was likely selected because of past international experience during his time as a member of parliament and the fact he was able to secure a ticket to the inauguration through a personal connection he has in the state of South Carolina.
"It's not the easiest ticket in the world to get," he said.
Like many people, Armstrong didn't get to use his ticket because bad weather forced the event to be moved indoors. Instead, he spent the majority of inauguration day participating in events at the Canadian embassy.
"I met many leaders of industry from both sides of the border. There were members of congress there, there were members of state legislatures there."
Sharing Canada's side
Armstrong said he was also interviewed by the Boston Globe for a story about the threat of U.S. tariffs, in which he talked about the concerns related to Michelin's operation in the province and risks for the seafood sector.
It's vital that Canadian officials take every opportunity they can to talk about the issues and tap whatever contacts they have to get that message to the American public and U.S. government officials, said Armstrong.
"We need to make sure we go down there so that the people in the United States of America can get our side and I really think the best way to do that is actually to be there and speak."
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said she heard "no good rationale" for why Armstrong would be the one to go on the trip or why it was not previously disclosed by the government.
Chender said Armstrong should have footed the bill.
Premier Tim Houston has made multiple trips to the U.S. in recent months as part of delegations trying to lobby the Trump administration to back down on tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian goods.
Houston's most recent trip, which took place this past week, included meetings with business officials in New York and attendance at a major seafood show in Boston. Provincial Fisheries Minister Kent Smith also attended that event as the province tries to contend with not only American tariffs but the looming threat of a 25 per cent tariff from China on live lobster and other products.
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