A member of the provincial parliament representing Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has broken his silence over a week after being removed from Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government due to criminal charges. Chris Scott, aged 35, released a statement addressing allegations of assault and assault with a weapon on September 19. In the statement, Scott mentioned that he has retained legal counsel and expressed trust in the criminal justice system. He refrained from commenting further on the charges, citing the ongoing court case, and requested privacy for his family, especially his children.
As an Independent member of parliament now, Scott announced that he would be stepping back from certain responsibilities while continuing to serve his constituents through his office. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community, stating his commitment to fulfilling his duties despite taking a temporary break from partisan and non-essential public engagements.
Despite calls for his resignation from various groups and individuals in Sault Ste. Marie, including Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, Scott stated that he has received support from constituents and community leaders. He thanked those who reached out, acknowledging the significance of their backing during this challenging time.
Before his current role as an Independent member, Scott had worked in Ford’s office and won the northern Ontario riding seat in the provincial election in February. His victory over New Democrat candidate Lisa Vezeau-Allen was by a narrow margin of 114 votes. Scott is scheduled to appear in court in Sault Ste. Marie on October 22 following the assault charges brought against him.
The premier’s office announced on September 22 that Scott was no longer part of the caucus without specifying the reason. When questioned about Scott’s departure during a news conference in eastern Ontario, Ford deferred to the police, emphasizing non-interference in ongoing investigations. The Sault Ste. Marie courthouse had previously confirmed the charges against Scott.