Ontario member of Parliament Pat O'Brien announced Monday he will leave the Liberal party and sit as an Independent because he doesn't like how the party is handling hearings on the same-sex marriage legislation.

O'Brien, 57, who represents the federal riding of London-Fanshawe, opposes same-sex marriage.

"I've taken the only course of action I can take and still feel good about myself," he said of his decision to quit the Liberal caucus.

Pat O'Brien announces he will leave his party, Monday.
Pat O'Brien announces he will leave his party, Monday.

He has sat in the House of Commons for 12 years, having been first elected in the 1993 Jean Chrétien landslide.

O'Brien had been hinting at leaving the party last April. But he said at the time he was convinced to stay on after being given assurances by Prime Minister Paul Martin that full and fair hearings would be held over same-sex marriage.

At a press conference on Monday, O'Brien said he was dissatisfied with Martin's commitment.

"I had assurances it would be meaningful and fair from the prime minister. That's not what's happening, in my judgment," he said.

He complained that the hearings have been given an artificial and unnecessary June 14 deadline. He said witnesses are only given 24 hours' notice to appear, are often berated and insulted by members of Parliament on both sides of the issue and that too many witnesses are being grouped together in one session.

O'Brien said he could not accept the rush by the Liberal government to redefine marriage.

Ontario Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis said a number of his Liberal colleagues are also considering taking steps to stop the bill.

Karygiannis said at least three Liberal MPs have indicated they would consider defeating the budget at third reading next week. The move would topple the government and kill the same-sex bill.

Karygiannis, who has voted against the bill, warned MPs to consider the implications of their actions.

"Make sure that you focus and make sure that we keep the country together," he said.

O'Brien's move leaves the Liberals with 133 seats in the House of Commons, the Conservatives with 98, the Bloc Québécois with 54, the NDP with 19 and four independents.

It is unclear what effect O'Brien's move will have on the Liberals' grip on power. O'Brien said it is "not his objective" to vote against and defeat the government in a non-confidence motion. But he said he wasn't ruling out any democratic action to try and defeat the proposed same-sex marriage bill.