‘My job hasn’t changed’: Sault Ste. Marie MPP continues work at Queen’s Park while facing assault charges

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott says he’s continuing his work at Queen’s Park despite facing charges of assault and assault with a weapon — and despite being removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus earlier this fall.

Scott was elected in February as a Progressive Conservative but was ejected from the party in September after the charges — for alleged spousal assault — were laid. He has not stepped down and now sits as an independent.

Scott told CBC’s Morning North that he knows people have seen headlines about the case and “might be concerned,” but he would not discuss details while the matter is before the courts.

“What I can say is that my job hasn’t changed. The people of Sault Ste. Marie sent me to Queens Park to fight for them. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing,” he said.

Scott was elected in February as a Progressive Conservative but was ejected from the party in September after the charges were laid. He has not stepped down and now sits as an independent.

He said his ability to navigate government and advance local issues has remained intact.

“I know a lot of these people personally and professionally for the last eight years,” he said. “Being able to get the information that I need and move files along hasn’t really changed that much.”

Holding onto his seat as an independent has drawn criticism from a number of public officials, including Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles.

The Ontario NDP and Ontario Federation of Labour launched a website in October urging Sault residents to call on Chris Scott to resign.

But Scott said his relationships with cabinet ministers, Conservative members and others at Queen’s Park have stayed “the same,” describing his treatment since becoming an independent as “business as usual.”

The rookie MPP said the issue dominating his work this fall has been the recent layoffs at Algoma Steel, where roughly 1,000 workers received notices.

Asked whether the province is doing enough to support steelworkers and the local industry, Scott said he believes Premier Doug Ford is the right person to “protect Ontario workers.”

He said the transition to electric arc steelmaking ensures a long-term business case for the company and noted meetings throughout the summer between Algoma leadership and several provincial ministers.

Scott said Algoma is upgrading its lines to produce steel for public projects under the Buy Ontario Act.

He also said the Ministry of Labour has been working to set up a “power centre” to help retrain affected workers.

Scott said he hopes no one will have to leave Sault Ste. Marie as a result of the layoffs

“When that news came out and when I was talking to Algoma, my heart went out to the 1,000 people. There’s never a good time to get that news. But first week of December, that’s really tough,” he said. 

Though he now sits as an independent, Scott confirmed he continues to vote with the Progressive Conservatives.

“My voting record would also suggest that I’m still a conservative, for sure,” he said.

As for whether he could return to caucus, Scott said the “first thing” is allowing the justice system to run its course.