PC MPP Chris Scott attends Question Period at Queen’s Park in Toronto in May.Cole Burston/The Canadian Press
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has removed an MPP from the Progressive Conservative caucus, following his arrest in Toronto on Sunday.
First-term MPP Chris Scott, who represents Sault Ste. Marie in the legislature, is no longer a member of the PC caucus, spokesperson Grace Lee said Monday.
The Premier’s office directed further inquiries to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. In a statement Monday, the Sault Ste. Marie police said that Toronto Police Service arrested 35-year-old Chris Van Scott, also known as Chris Scott, on Sunday after an investigation by detectives with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
The police service said it would not release further details of the incident or the charges to protect the victim’s privacy.
Asked by reporters on Monday why Mr. Scott was removed from caucus, Mr. Ford said: “You can ask Chris Scott the reason why.”
“Go to the Sault Ste. Marie police. I don’t want to interfere in a police investigation,” Mr. Ford said at an announcement in Russell, Ont.
Mr. Ford said he learned about the police matter a few minutes earlier in the parking lot.
Mr. Scott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Scott was elected in the Feb. 27 provincial election. According to local media reports, Mr. Scott was hand-picked by Mr. Ford for the PC nomination and worked with former MPP Ross Romano. He also spent two years in Mr. Ford’s office, according to reporting in the Trillium online newspaper.