TORONTO - An 18-year veteran of the Ontario legislature will have to sit as an independent when the fall session kicks off next week after he was formally kicked out of the Progressive Conservative caucus Thursday for criticizing party leader John Tory.
Acting Opposition Leader Bob Runciman sent Bill Murdoch a letter confirming that the well-liked party maverick was being immediately removed from caucus for saying it was time Tory considered taking another job.
An obviously frustrated Tory said he had "made a supreme effort" to bring Murdoch back into the fold, giving him several chances to retract his statements.
"We made every effort to offer him an opportunity to reconsider the positions that he had taken in a very public way," said Tory.
"He steadfastly refused to do so, and in fact went on repeating over and over again what he'd said. He was invited to adopt a different course. He refused and the rest is history."
Murdoch complained that he was booted out by Tory and a few of the party executive -- "like they do in Russia and the communist system" -- after he had agreed to meet with the entire 25-member caucus sometime next week to discuss his comments and find ways to resolve their differences.
"I was going to go with some ideas that I had that may, if he had agreed to (back them), I maybe could have supported him a little longer, but I'm not getting that opportunity," said Murdoch.
"People in Ontario are sick and tired of party politics. They think people should have the right to speak up, and this is one of the reasons I was upset with Tory, because I felt it wasn't being allowed.
"All he did was prove me right."
Tory admitted there was no vote in caucus to expel Murdoch, but said that votes are never taken at caucus meetings and it's up to the leader to determine if a consensus has been reached.
"I am the democratically elected leader of this party, and I think it is not unreasonable to expect that we're going to have the support of the caucus."
Runciman, who counts "Billy" as a close friend, said the member for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound should have realized his criticism should have been made behind closed doors at a caucus meeting, not to the media.
The comments came at a bad time for the Conservatives and for Tory, who still can't find a member of the caucus to step aside so he can run in a byelection and get a seat in the legislature, added Runciman.
"Given the election results, and John's lack of a seat, and all of the dynamics surrounding our current situation... this was perhaps the most inappropriate time for Bill to express his independence," he told reporters.
"It could have been even more damaging if he was allowed to continue down that path."
In his letter confirming the expulsion from caucus, Runciman reminded Murdoch that he had "again reiterated your public statements of non-confidence in the leader of our party."
"You confirmed that you would neither reconsider your position nor would you cease making public statements of this kind going forward."
In a subsequent letter to the Conservative caucus, Runciman said "every opportunity has been afforded to Bill to reconcile with caucus."
"Tradition, fairness and respect for one another and our party demands that this action be taken."
Earlier this week, Murdoch was greeted with cheers and hugs at the International Plowing Match in southwestern Ontario, while Tory's float heard cries of "Leave Bill alone" and "Back off Murdoch."
