Craig Scott

Craig M. Scott (born March 14, 1962) is a Canadian politician and academic. He was elected as the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate in a federal by-election in Toronto—Danforth on March 19, 2012, and served as the riding's Member of Parliament (MP) until his defeat in the 2015 federal election. He taught at University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School prior to entering politics.

Background Born and raised in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Scott moved to Vancouver Island at age 17 to attend the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific, gaining the International Baccalaureate Diploma in 1981. He also has a Masters of Law from the London School of Economics (1987) and a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University (1988). with a focus on human rights law.

From 2005 to 2011, Scott and his partner Kovit Ratchadasri owned the Craig Scott Gallery, an art gallery on Berkeley Street near Toronto's Distillery District.

Academic and legal career He served as law clerk to the Chief Justice of Canada Brian Dickson from 1988 to 1989, then joined the University of Toronto Faculty of Law as assistant professor, becoming tenured as associate professor in 1994. In 2000 he joined the faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School, and served as associate dean from 2001 to 2004. He was also a director of the Jack and Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security.

Scott was an advisor to the African National Congress while it was in exile during the Apartheid era, as well as human rights issues relating to Iraq and Sri Lanka.

Political career Following the death of NDP leader and Toronto—Danforth MP Jack Layton in August 2011, Scott was selected as the party's candidate on January 9, 2012 to run in the riding's by-election. He won the seat on March 19, 2012 with 59% of the vote, despite a strong campaign by second-place Liberal finisher Grant Gordon. He served in the 41st Parliament as opposition critic on democratic reform and parliamentary reform, member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Scott ran for re-election in 2015, but was defeated by Liberal Julie Dabrusin amid the massive Liberal wave that swept through Toronto.

Electoral record