Sault Ste. Marie MPP ousted from PC caucus after being charged with assault

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott is no longer with the Progressive Conservative caucus, after the rookie backbencher was charged with assault from local police.

Authorities in Northern Ontario say Scott was arrested Sunday by Toronto police on an out-of-town warrant, prompting Premier Doug Ford to kick him out of caucus.

“Well Chris will no longer be sitting with our caucus and if you want more, you can go and ask Chris Scott the reason why,” said Ford.

Ford was tight-lipped Monday, over his decision to boot rookie MPP Scott out of the PC caucus.

Right after learning about the Sault Ste. Marie representative’s arrest and charges laid against him.

“You know something, I would go to the Sault Ste. Marie police, I was informed literally in the parking lot as we were going through here, as we were going through here,” said Ford. “Yeah, go to Sault Ste. Marie police about it, I don’t want to interfere in a police investigation.

Officers released a statement Monday, saying the 35-year-old was arrested by Toronto police Sunday, on an out-of-town warrant.

They add that, “to protect the privacy of the victim(s), no further details regarding the incident or the charges will be released.”

However, the courthouse in the Northern Ontario city told CHCH News that Scott is facing one count of assault and another charge of assault with a weapon, over an incident that occurred last Friday.

He’s also barred from contacting anyone involved in the incident.

READ MORE: Sault Ste. Marie MPP ejected from Ontario PC caucus, Ford directs questions to police

CHCH News reached out to Scott’s office for comment and his future, but have not gotten a response.

“Obviously, his bail conditions make it harder for him to represent his riding, in his riding,” said Peter Graefe, a professor of political science at McMaster University. “Having to be centered in Toronto, I think when we learn more about the charges, we’ll get a better sense of whether he decides to stay on.”

A former top aide to the Premier’s Chief of Staff, the backbencher was elected in the last provincial election, and also served as the parliamentary assistant to Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce.

Outside of the Conservative caucus, Scott is officially an independent MPP at Queen’s Park.

The NDP released a statement Monday saying, “Following media reports of Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott being under criminal investigation for assault, the Ontario NDP is calling for MPP Scott’s immediate resignation.”

“The Ontario NDP may decide to move a motion to censure,” said Graefe. “Certainly, parliaments have the ability to censure people who are found with convictions or even if there are severe charges against him, to limit their access.”

According to Canada’s Criminal Code, it says for anyone in public office that is convicted of an indictable offense and sentenced to two or more years in jail, their position must be vacated.

The Sault Ste. Marie courthouse told CHCH News that Scott is out on bail, after appearing in court Monday.

They did not provide a date of his next appearance.

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