One month following his expulsion from Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative caucus, Chris Scott, the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Sault Ste. Marie, missed a scheduled court appearance in his northeastern Ontario constituency on Wednesday. Instead, he remained at Queen’s Park. Scott, a newly elected MPP, was arrested and charged with assault and assault with a weapon on September 19.
During the court hearing, a representative for lawyer Michael Lacy, appearing via Zoom on behalf of an articling student, requested an adjournment of Scott’s case until after the counsel pre-trial on November 4. The matter is set to be revisited in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom on November 12.
Presently serving as an Independent, Scott was absent on Monday for the Legislature’s first session since June but was present in Toronto on Tuesday, located away from Ford and the PC party.
Despite calls for his resignation from various public figures, including Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, Scott expressed eagerness to resume his duties. He maintained confidence in his capabilities, denying the allegations of spousal assault and placing faith in the legal process, eagerly anticipating his day in court.
Scott mentioned receiving support from some former PC caucus members but confirmed no recent communication with Ford, attributing the lack of contact to Ford’s busy schedule. While he has refrained from engaging in partisan activities like campaigning and fundraising, Scott assured constituents that his office remains operational, promising more information once the legal matter is resolved.