Seven of the 10 Bloc Quebecois MPs are quitting the party over Martine Ouellet’s leadership style.
READ MORE: Martine Ouellet named new leader of the Bloc Quebecois
They made the announcement after a Bloc caucus meeting in Ottawa Wednesday morning.
The seven will sit as Independents.
WATCH: Bloc Québécois in crisis as 7 MPs resign from party, will sit as Independents
The departures are a crushing blow to a party that formed the official Opposition under Lucien Bouchard in 1993.
READ MORE: Gilles Duceppe steps down as leader of the Bloc Quebecois
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Gilles Duceppe then took over the reins of the party and led it in five consecutive elections in which it won at least half of the seats in Quebec.
More coming.