Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott has been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus, the party says, the day after he was arrested by police in Toronto.
In a brief statement on Monday morning, a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford announced Scott would not sit with the government anymore.
“MPP Chris Scott is no longer a member of the PC caucus,” Ford’s office said.
Initially, the reason for Scott’s removal was unclear. Multiple sources within the Progressive Conservative caucus and government were not aware of why he’d been removed, suggesting the premier’s office had kept a tight circle.
Asked about the removal at an unrelated event on Monday, Ford also offered little information.
“Well, Chris will be no longer sitting with our caucus; you can ask Chris Scott the reason why,” the premier said.
The premier’s office and Ford said questions should be answered by local police.
“I was informed literally in the parking lot as we were going through here,” Ford said. “Go to Sault Ste. Marie police, I don’t want to interfere in a police investigation.”
Get breaking National news
Sault Ste. Marie police confirmed soon after Scott had been arrested on Sunday by officers in Toronto. They didn’t say what he had been charged with.
“On September 21, 2025, the Toronto Police Service arrested 35-year-old Chris Van Scott, also known as Chris Scott, following an investigation by detectives with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service,” the statement said.
Police did not publish any information about the charges or the investigation. They said no other details would be released to “protect the privacy of the victim(s).”
The Sault Ste. Marie court told Global News Scott appeared for bail on Monday and was granted release under a promise to pay $5,000. He was charged with assault and assault with a weapon.
Toronto police, who made the arrest, confirmed they had acted on an “out of town arrest warrant,” referring all other questions to Sault Ste. Marie.
Scott was elected for the first time in February, very narrowly beating the NDP candidate in the riding by a little over 100 votes. The MPP did not respond to a request for comment from Global News.
Scott was a long-time Progressive Conservative staffer, having advised Ford’s chief of staff, as well as working as the chief of staff to the associate minister of housing and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
Being removed from caucus does not remove Scott as an MPP. Instead, he automatically crosses the aisle to sit as an independent member.
His removal is unlikely to have a material impact on the government’s ability to pass legislation. Without Scott or Speaker Donna Skelly, the Progressive Conservatives still have 78 seats in the 124-seat legislature.
Scott is due back in court on Oct. 22.
Comments