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OTTAWA – Persistence has paid off for Elizabeth May, who doubled the size of her caucus Friday when independent MP Bruce Hyer formally announced he was indeed going Green.

The former New Democrat broke the news to constituents in Thunder Bay-Superior North, alongside his new leader.

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In remarks prepared for the occasion, Hyer said he’s been wooed by both Liberals and his former party but after much reflection found they were “too hyper-partisan” and unwilling to allow him to vote on policy according to his own conscience and in what he felt were the best interests of his community.

“I will never represent any party that ‘whips’ voting by their MPs, especially on issues not clearly laid out in agreed-upon written policy or platforms,” he said, adding his Green Party membership fees are officially paid up for three years.

“There is only one party that whips few if any votes, as long as their six basic principles are followed. I believe in those six basic principles and I am not concerned that Elizabeth and I will disagree on some votes. We already have.”