Chris Scott, the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Sault Ste. Marie, missed his court hearing in his constituency on Wednesday. This absence followed his recent expulsion from the Progressive Conservative caucus led by Doug Ford. Scott, who was arrested on September 19 and charged with assault and assault with a weapon, chose to remain at Queen’s Park instead of attending the scheduled court appearance.
A representative for his lawyer, Michael Lacy, appeared over Zoom on Scott’s behalf during the hearing. They requested an adjournment of Scott’s case until after the counsel pre-trial session on November 4. The matter is set to be revisited in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom on November 12.
Following his expulsion, Scott is now serving as an Independent MPP. While he was absent during the Legislature’s first session since June on Monday, he was present in Toronto on Tuesday, seated away from Ford and the Progressive Conservatives.
Despite calls from various public figures for his resignation, including Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, Scott expressed his eagerness to resume his duties. He affirmed his confidence in his abilities and denied the allegations of spousal assault.
When asked about the charges, Scott promptly responded, “One hundred per cent. I have full faith in the criminal justice system and look forward to my day in court,” he stated on Tuesday. Scott noted that some of his former PC caucus colleagues have shown support for him but mentioned no communication with Ford.
While refraining from partisan activities like canvassing or fundraising, Scott assured constituents that his office remains open to address their needs. He hinted at sharing more details once the current legal matter is resolved.
