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Scott nabbed by Toronto police, Sault Ste. Marie Police Services announces; assault and assault with a weapon charges
Published Sep 22, 2025 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 2 minute read
Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott Scott was elected just seven months ago in the February snap election. JEFFREY OUGLER/SAULT STAR jpg, SM, apsmcArticle content
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the member of provincial parliament for Sault Ste. Marie is no longer part of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
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The circumstances of Chris Scott’s departure are unclear, but a spokesperson for Ford directed questions to Sault Ste. Marie police, who did not immediately return a call.
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But late Monday morning, Sault Ste. Marie Police Services issued a statement that on Sunday, Toronto Police Service arrested 35-year-old Chris Van Scott, also known as Chris Scott, following an investigation by Sault detectives.
“To protect the privacy of the victim(s), no further details regarding the incident or the charges will be released by the SSMPS,” the release said.
Scott has reportedly been charged with assault and assault with a weapon.
Scott called the charges “baseless” and said he’d have more to say in the near future, when reached by The Sault Star, just shortly after his bail hearing.
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“I need to collect my thoughts and process what happened during the worst day of my life,” he said. “I just walked out of there 10 minutes ago . . . I’ll have more to say in the near future.”
Under his bail release terms, Scott is to reside in Toronto and must reside with his surety there. He is not to possess any weapons.
Meanwhile, Ford was asked for the reason at an unrelated press conference Monday and he simply said the reporter could ask Scott.
“I was informed literally in the parking lot, as we were going through here,” Ford said when asked about Scott at an unrelated press conference.
“Go to Sault Ste Marie police. I don’t want to interfere in a police investigation.”
Scott was slated to make an announcement Tuesday at the District Social Services Administration Board office in Sault Ste. Marie.
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A release Monday morning from Scott’s office said another announcement, scheduled for Monday afternoon, was cancelled.
“We will be in touch to inform you of the rescheduled date,” the release said. The status of the Tuesday announcement remains unknown.
Scott was elected just seven months ago in the February snap election in which he defeated NDP candidate Lisa Vezeau-Allen by 118 votes — the closest result in the Sault Ste. Marie riding for 120 years.
The riding was previously represented by Progressive Conservative Ross Romano, who won a 2017 byelection but did not run for re-election earlier this year; Scott worked in Romano’s office when the latter was an Ontario cabinet minister.
Scott, a handpicked PC candidate for Sault Ste. Marie, was a backbencher in government, serving as parliamentary assistant to Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce.
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In fact, the married father of three, not originally from the Sault, spent almost a decade in various roles behind the scenes at Queen’s Park, serving as special advisor to the chief of staff, as well as in several ministries, including housing, engagement and services, environment, conservation and parks, government services and colleges and universities, among other areas.
Meanwhile, the Ontario NDP is calling for Scott to step down.
“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,” a Tuesday release read.
with files from The Canadian Press and Postmedia Network
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