A B.C. New Democrat has been kicked out of caucus for questioning his leader.
NDP leader Carole James issued a statement early Thursday morning saying Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson was no longer a member of caucus.
"When I wrote the column, I knew I was, maybe, testing the limits of people's forbearance with me with respect to being opening critical of your own party," said Simpson of the online comments that led to his dismissal.
"But I certainly didn't expect to have a press release go out after midnight letting the whole world know I had been removed from caucus."
James was responding to Simpson's comments critical of a lack of specifics in her recent speech to delegates attending a municipal government convention.
In a release issued early Thursday morning, James said she spoke to Simpson on Wednesday night and informed him of her decision.
"Mr. Simpson has made it clear that he would rather criticize our work than contribute to it," she said.
"He has made it clear that he does not want to be part of our team."
Simpson, a two-term MLA and the party's critic for aboriginal relations and reconciliation, said he will sit as an independent but has not decided if he will run again in the next provincial election.
