A retired heart doctor who has become well known as a maverick politician has been tossed out of New Brunswick’s Conservative caucus.
Dr. Jim Parrott was given the boot after a number of outspoken attacks on the provincial government.
It’s the first firing under Premier David Alward after almost two years in power.
"The member from Fundy-River Valley, under my recommendation and with unanimous support from our caucus, has been removed from caucus effective immediately," the Premier confirmed to CTV News Thursday.
While the expulsion comes following Parrott’s published attack on the government’s healthcare policy, the premier says it’s not just about one incident.
“There needs to be that opportunity to have discussion, debate and dialogue and that takes place, very clearly, within our caucus,” says Alward. “There has to be a level of trust as well and I'm very disappointed to say that the member has broken that trust."
Parrott has been described as a maverick, challenging the government on more that one occasion.
The former heart surgeon toppled former Energy Minister Jack Keir when the Conservatives came to power in 2010. The Liberals say they aren’t surprised to see the Alward government starting to break.
“Here we have a member of his caucus speaking up for better healthcare and speaking up for his constituents, which was just exactly what he was elected to do, and the premier throws him out,” says Liberal MLA Bill Fraser. “That's pretty despicable.”
When reached by telephone Thursday afternoon, Parrott said he wasn’t interested in providing an on-camera interview with CTV News.
He said he was busy making apple jelly, and hadn’t even spoken to the premier, but was hoping to soon.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
