February 19 2025 - Growing up in Cape Breton, my dad represented my hometown as a councillor for twelve years. I remember him always saying, “my people want, my people need, my people deserve, and my job as their representative is to deliver.” I carried his wisdom with me throughout my career as a teacher, as superintendent of Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), and throughout the last ten years as Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook.
It has been an honour and privilege to represent my constituents over the last ten years. However, after great consideration, I have decided not to seek re-election as Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook when the next general election is called.
I am proud of everything we’ve accomplished here at home to support communities across our riding. From major projects like the Sackville-Bedford-Burnside Connector, to upgrading some of our local community centres and canoe clubs, we have strengthened our communities and brought people together in meaningful ways.
From 2019 to 2024, I had the privilege of serving as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. During this time, I deepened my understanding of Canada’s military history and worked to support our veterans by raising awareness of groups like the No. 2 Construction Battalion and securing spaces at Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Hospital for both Allied Forces veterans and Canadian veterans who served after the Korean War.
More recently, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), I’ve helped secure funding for organizations making a meaningful impact in the Atlantic provinces, including for the thirteen Canadian Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) of Nova Scotia, the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island, and Université Sainte-Anne.
Another aspect of my work as an MP that I’ve been especially passionate about is my involvement with the Department of Official Languages. Through the Standing Committee on Official Languages, the Official Language Minority Community Caucus (OLMCC), and the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (CAPF), I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Acadians and Francophones from across the political spectrum and various sectors.
With all of that in mind, any of my colleagues in Parliament can attest to the time spent in Ottawa, often away from loved ones. That’s why I want to thank my wife, Faye, and my children, Chantal, Janelle, and Joel, for their patience and unwavering support over the past 10 years. Since being elected in 2015, I’ve had the joy of becoming a grandfather to six incredible grandchildren - Maille, Lucas, Loic, Emma, Alex and Stella - and I’m ready to take the next step towards spending more time with them.
I also thank my staff, past and present, for their hard work and dedication, the volunteers who have come out to support me in my campaigns, and my friends and colleagues in National Liberal Caucus. I often recall how during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, MPs came together virtually over 67 consecutive nights, working together to find solutions for the evolving public health crisis.
Finally, I want to thank you, my constituents, for putting your trust in me as your MP for the last 10 years. I have always appreciated receiving feedback from my constituents, and using it to better represent you in Parliament. I always say that while the government can come together to carve out money to invest in projects, it is the hard working Canadians on the ground that are making a real difference in our communities. I believe that as Canadians, our spirit of compassion for each other is what continues to make us so strong and united, and I believe it will continue to do so for many generations to come.
Thank you. Take care.
Sincerely,
Darrell J. Samson
Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook
