Members of provincial parliament are returning to Queen’s Park today for the first time since June — but it’s unlikely northern Ontario will have full representation this week.
That’s because Chris Scott, the Sault Ste. Marie MPP facing criminal charges, has a scheduled court appearance in the Sault on Wednesday.
He was dropped from Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government after he was arrested and charged with assault and assault with a weapon in the Sault last month.
Other than a brief statement issued on Oct. 2 — where Scott said he “remained fully committed to serving the people of Sault Ste. Marie” — the 35-year-old rookie parliamentarian has avoided all interviews and public appearances since the allegations were revealed.
Holding onto his seat as an independent hasn’t sat well with a slew of public officials, including Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles.
“They’re serious allegations — serious charges,” Stiles told CBC News earlier this month. “The MPP needs to be present for the community, especially at a time like this when the Sault is really facing some significant challenges [like] threats to the economy [and] the healthcare system.”
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles has repeatedly called on Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott to resign. (Alex Flood/CBC)
The Ontario NDP and Ontario Federation of Labour recently launched a website that asks Sault residents to call on Chris Scott to resign.
Entitled, “Has Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott resigned yet?” the website encourages users to send Scott an email or print a petition requesting him to step down.
But according to Trevor Tchir, a political science professor at Algoma University, Scott isn’t legally obligated to exit the stage at this point.
“You can still be a member of provincial parliament if you’re sentenced to less than two years,” he explained. “Some say he should step down — I can see why he wouldn’t. This is a job he feels he can still do, it’s a paying job.”
“He still hasn’t had his day in court, so he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
David Tabachnick, a political science professor at Nipissing University, anticipates Scott has some challenging weeks ahead if he intends to retain his seat and continue representing Sault Ste. Marie.
“Defending yourself against these serious charges in of itself is a full-time job, let alone doing an incredibly difficult job that an MPP has,” he said. “It’s time consuming. It will be hugely difficult for him to do these things.”
Although he’s sitting as an independent, Tchir said Scott has an important role if he elects to stay on as MPP.
MPPs return to Queen’s Park on Monday. (Yan Theoret/CBC)
Scott will still have the chance to speak in the assembly on any motion or bill that’s before the House, he will have time allotted to ask questions in Question Period and he will still have the right to vote on any bill or motion — the same as any members affiliated with a major party would.
“Because they don’t have any party discipline to face or any pressure from the party leader, they can vote according to their conscience or what they perceive to be the will of their riding,” Tchir said.
If Scott were to eventually step down and trigger a byelection, Tabachnick believes it would be “very hard” for the Progressive Conservatives to hold onto the seat.
Scott defeated New Democrat candidate Lisa Vezeau-Allen by just 114 votes in February’s Ontario election.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if the result would be that this would return to the NDP fold.”
However, Tchir doesn’t quite see it that way.
“I don’t think there would be some kind of kneejerk, significant rejection of the Progressive Conservative brand,” he said. “The PCs have tried to protect the party by quickly kicking Mr. Scott out of the caucus…no doubt with a view of the next byelection or election.”
