Nova Scotia opposition questions minister’s trip to Trump inauguration

CITYnews halifax / By The Canadian Press

Nova Scotia’s opposition leaders are questioning an undisclosed trip by a provincial cabinet minister to U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

Minister of Social Development Scott Armstrong says he got the ticket through connections in South Carolina and was working in conjunction with the premier’s office because they needed someone to attend the event.

Armstrong says he didn’t attend the actual inauguration ceremony because cold weather forced it indoors, but he did attend an event at the Canadian Embassy where he was able to talk to business leaders and do media interviews about the tariff threat.

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Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette, who raised the issue in the legislature, says taxpayers’ money was used by a minister whose portfolio has nothing to do with international trade.

According to an expense report filed by Armstrong, the trip cost a total of $3,288.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says she takes issue with the fact Armstrong’s trip wasn’t announced publicly, and she believes he should have paid for it himself.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2025.