André Bellavance, the MP for the riding Richmond–Arthabaska Québec, is quitting the Bloc Québécois over differences with the party's recently elected leader Mario Beaulieu.
Bellavance announced during a press conference in Victoriaville, Que., Monday morning, he will serve the rest of his mandate as an Independent and will not run again in 2015.
Bellavance blamed Beaulieu for not being able to quell the crisis brewing inside the party and a "witch-hunt" that has seen "pro-Bellavance" supporters harassed online for not being sovereigntist enough.
"Beaulieu calls himself a unifier, but for me, that is not the case," Bellavance said.
"There are MPs that are leaving, presidents of associations, members of riding associations, Bloc Québécois staff, former MPs who had expressed an intention to return as candidates at the next election and who have decided not to do so following his election."
Bellavance, who was first elected in 2004, is the third BQ MP this year to leave the sovereigntist party.
He ran for the leadership of the party in June but lost to Beaulieu, who has been criticized in separatist circles for being too divisive.
Beaulieu does not have a seat in Parliament.
More to come