Northern Ontario MPP Chris Scott has been removed from Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative caucus following his arrest by Toronto police as announced by Sault Ste. Marie police on Sunday. The premier’s office confirmed Scott’s expulsion from the caucus without providing a specific reason. During a news conference in eastern Ontario, Premier Ford addressed Scott’s departure, stating that he was only informed about the situation by Sault Ste. Marie police in the parking lot and emphasized the non-interference in police investigations.
According to a news release from Sault Ste. Marie police, Scott was arrested by Toronto police on Sunday following an investigation conducted by their own detectives. Details regarding potential charges were not disclosed. Scott, who won the Sault Ste. Marie MPP seat in the recent Ontario election by a narrow margin of 118 votes against New Democrat candidate Lisa Vezeau-Allen, is 35 years old and not originally from Sault Ste. Marie. He previously served as a special adviser to the chief of staff in Ford’s office and worked for former Sault Conservative MPP Ross Romano during his tenure as an Ontario cabinet minister.