Canada's Conservative government Wednesday kicked an outspoken legislator out of its caucus in part for his critical blogging comments about the party and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Garth Turner, a parliamentarian who represents the Ontario riding of Halton, was suspended Wednesday from the Conservative caucus, after a motion passed citing "confidentiality concerns" on his often-controversial daily blog, The Turner Report.

Turner would now sit as an independent member of parliament, Conservative Party Caucus Chair Rahim Jaffer told reporters on Wednesday in Ottawa, adding that it was up to Turner to reach out to the party's leadership if he wants to rejoin the caucus.

"This is something that has been culminated since Mr. Turner's election to our caucus," Jaffer said.

He said the primary sources of concern were confidentiality matters and attacks on other party members posted on Turner's blog.

"There is attacks that were made on individuals, including the prime minister," Jaffer said. "The theme of confidentiality was not being respected, in their opinion, and it restricted the ability for members to operate in a confidential way."

The suspension of the controversial legislator was the result of a unanimous vote made by both the provincial and the federal ranks of the party, he said.

Immediately after the Tory's decision, Turner posted a response on his blog. Being kicked out of the caucus was "unfortunate," but that it has freed him to be the best legislator he could be, he said.

"I work for the voters -- the people, the taxpayers. After that I heed my party and the political establishment. All are important, of course, but the people come first."

It was ironic that he has been a Conservative longer than most of the people who call themselves Conservatives these days, Turner said.

Turner, a prominent businessman in his community, columnist and broadcaster, has one of the most comprehensive websites of any of his colleagues.

He has been at odds with the Tory caucus on a number of issues ranging from the budget, to its child-care plan, to its ban of media from repatriation ceremonies of the bodies of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Also, he publicly denounced Harper's recruitment of Liberal parliamentarian David Emerson to their ranks in March.

However, the Prime Minister's Office has denied any involvement in Turner's removal from the caucus.

Turner's departure leaves the Conservatives with 124 seats, 30 short of a majority, in the 308-seat House of Commons. The Liberals hold 101, the Bloc Quebecois 50, the New Democratic Party 29, and there are now two independents, and two vacant seats.

Source: Xinhua