ATLANTIC

Olive Crane removed from Tory caucus in P.E.I.

THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Friday, October 4, 2013 7:24PM ADT

Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative leader Olive Crane casts her ballot in the provincial election in St. Andrews, P.E.I., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Olive Crane casts her ballot in the provincial election in St. Andrews, P.E.I., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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CHARLOTTETOWN -- The interim leader of Prince Edward Island's Progressive Conservatives says he has removed former leader Olive Crane from the Tory caucus.

In a video posted on the Charlottetown Guardian website, Steven Myers told reporters that he notified the Speaker on Friday that Crane was no longer a member of the party's caucus, adding that he spoke to the politician as well.

The Tories now have three caucus members after Hal Parry announced earlier this week that he was frustrated at the party's lack of opposition to Ottawa's employment insurance rules and crossed the floor to join the Liberals, who have a large majority in the province's legislature.

Myers and Crane could not be reached for comment.

On the video, Myers refuses to reveal any details about the reason for Crane's dismissal, saying only that she had agreed not to go to the media about an unspecified issue.

Crane was first elected in 2006 and led the party in the last election before stepping down eight months ago.