Bush Dumville, the MLA for West Royalty-Springvale, will sit as an independent after resigning from the Liberal Party, Premier Wade MacLauchlan announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, MacLauchlan said he was disappointed by Dumville's reasoning but that the party would move on.

"It has been clear for some time that Mr. Dumville has struggled to share the values of our Liberal caucus and Liberal Party," MacLauchlan said in the statement.

CBC News has reached out to Dumville for comment.

It has been clear for some time that Mr. Dumville has struggled to share the values of our Liberal caucus and Liberal Party. — Premier Wade MacLauchlan

The 73-year-old has represented District 15 as a member of the Liberal Party since 2007. Dumville is a former businessman and was a member of the RCMP.

Dumville's resignation leaves the Liberals with 16 seats in the 27-seat provincial legislature.

In an interview, MacLauchlan said Dumville was unhappy with the founding meeting of the new District 15 last Thursday. The new District 15 is called Brackley-Hunter River after the P.E.I. Electoral Commission reviewed the boundaries last year.

He said Dumville came to him Wednesday morning to offer his resignation following the meeting last week.

New District 15

"I think that's what triggered today's letter. Really it's to question our commitment to open and democratic processes by which we move forward at the association level," MacLauchlan said.

MacLauchlan also noted that Dumville was unhappy from the 2015 election nomination process when he was forced to compete for the nomination as an incumbent.

The premier said he stands by the process and believes the party will have a strong presence in the new District 15.