TORONTO - Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory's move to expel party maverick Bill Murdoch from caucus for criticizing his leadership may not have quelled the dissension in the ranks as he had hoped.

The always outspoken Murdoch, who has represented Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for 18 years, was kicked out of the Conservative caucus last week after saying Tory should find another job so the party can get on with selecting a new leader.

Murdoch had been suspended from caucus two weeks ago for his comments, but was caught off guard by the formal expulsion last Thursday.

He had agreed to meet with each of the 25 other elected Conservatives and their leader to discuss his fate, but that meeting never happened after Murdoch posed for photos with the Liberal government caucus.

At least one Conservative member of the legislature wondered why Tory broke the commitment that the entire caucus would be able to hear directly from Murdoch before any action was taken.

"I'm a big believer in sticking by your commitments, and there was a commitment that Bill would be back to state his case in front of caucus (and) caucus would make that decision," Randy Hillier told The Canadian Press.

"Apparently we don't have that opportunity now."

Hillier, who represents the eastern Ontario riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, made it clear he wasn't speaking for the rest of the caucus, but said his colleagues did want to hear Murdoch's comments first-hand instead of relying on media reports.

"That's what the commitment was ... and everyone made decisions based on those commitments, and they weren't carried through," he said.

"I'm looking forward along with all other caucus members to the next meeting so we can hash this out and everybody has a clear understanding of where we go from here."

Other Conservative caucus members declined comment Monday on how Murdoch was dealt with by the party leadership, and Tory himself wasn't available for comment.

Murdoch said the Tory-led executive scared all the caucus members into silence, and he predicted that strategy may backfire on the embattled leader.

"Some of them may be hoping that this does Tory in," he said.

"I think the sooner John goes, the better for the party because the party's losing (more) in this than anybody now."

Interim Opposition Leader Bob Runciman -- who acts for the seatless Tory in the legislature -- said there was never any intention of having the caucus vote on Murdoch's future, and that the meeting was cancelled because Murdoch made it clear he wasn't ready to be a team player.

"It was a mug's game to have a meeting," Runciman said.

"What could be accomplished? Bill had already indicated pretty darn clearly that, you know, `You can stick your conditions in your ear, and I'm not going to live by it.' This would have been more of a PR event than any kind of meaningful meeting."

Some longtime Conservative supporters said Monday there was growing frustration with Tory's leadership, his inability to find a seat and his failure to stop people like Murdoch from overshadowing party policies.

"I think there is a lot of embarrassed people right now," said one Conservative who wanted to remain anonymous. "They're embarrassed about the situation that John Tory has created and continues to dig himself into."

Tory, who lost a head-to-head battle with Liberal Education Minister Kathleen Wynne in the election, has been unable to convince one of his caucus members to step aside so he can run in a byelection.

There was virtually no one in the house Monday morning when Murdoch quietly took his new seat as the only Independent member of the Ontario legislature, just a few feet from his old seat in the Conservative benches.

The isolated corner seat looked like what it is: punishment for Murdoch's very public criticism of Tory.

A couple of Conservative members visited Murdoch in his new seat, but his former caucus colleagues were silent -- while the Liberals and New Democrats applauded -- as Murdoch stood to ask a question about repairs to a highway in his riding.

"You guys didn't want to clap?" Murdoch asked the Conservatives as the other two parties cheered.

Transportation Minister Jim Bradley couldn't resist rubbing the Conservatives' troubles in their faces as he responded to Murdoch.

"I appreciate the member's independent stand on that particular issue," Bradley quipped.