Cumberland municipal councillor Allison Gillis talks to federal Fisheries Minister Gail while Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Tory candidate Scott Armstrong looks on during the opening of the party’s Amherst campaign office on Friday. Darrell Cole – Amherst Daily News

By Darrell Cole
Amherst Daily News
AMHERST – The best way Cumberland County can get its share of funding for important infrastructure projects is by having a voice on the government side of the House of Commons.
Speaking to Conservatives during the opening of the party’s Amherst campaign office, Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley candidate Scott Armstrong said he is well aware of the infrastructure needs in the riding and hopes to be able to leverage some funding to support those project if he's elected.
“One of the issues that comes up time and time again in this end of the riding is infrastructure and I know there are a number here that need to be pushed through. There are literally millions and millions of dollars in Ottawa that can be pushed to this riding. We need a strong voice in Ottawa to push these dollars through,” Armstrong said.
While the Liberals and New Democrats brought their leaders to the riding to support their candidates, Armstrong said he was pleased to have Fisheries Minister Gail Shea visit the area because she can get things done.
The minister also visited Advocate Harbour on Saturday and toured the seawall that was damaged by a severe winter storm last December.
Armstrong said the Liberals and New Democrats want to dwell on what happened in the past while he’s more interested in preparing for the future.
"We need roads, infrastructure and investment in jobs so our children and grandchildren will stay here and work here," he said. "As an elementary school principal I can't tell you how many times I've seen people have to move out west because there are no jobs. We need to establish the infrastructure for young people to stay here."
Shea, who last October won a P.E.I. riding that had been Liberal for nearly three decades, said the government needs to have Armstrong.
"We really need someone like Scott as part of our team," Shea said. "If there's a way to get things done it is to have someone there to represent you in Ottawa."
Shea admitted that byelections are not normally kind to sitting governments, but she pointed out the Conservatives have shown a lot of momentum in recent polls and she's hoping that will translate into a majority.
"We are doing the right things. We have spent a lot of money during this recession to turn things around. A lot of communities have benefited and people have been put to work," she said. "We are coming out of this recession in a lot better shape than many other countries around the world."
dcole@amherstdaily.com