New Canadian Conservative party loses 3 MP's on first day. More to come?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031208.wbach1208/BNStory/National/

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/08/tories031208

Former Canadian PM and PC Party Leader has left the Canadian Conservative Party, alongside New Brunswick MP John Herron and Quebec MP Andre Bachand. Clark, a moderate centrist is concerned by the neo-conservative direction of the new party, and will sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative, as will Herron. Bachand is likely to join the ruling Liberals.
At least three other former PC MP's are also likely to leave the party, should it prove too right-wing. Nova Scotia's Scott Brison, Manitoba's Rick Borotsik and Newfoundland's Rex Barnes. MP Elsie Wayne is also reported to have doubts. The PC party went into the merger with 15 seats, as opposed to the neo-conservative Canadian Alliance's 63.

I disagree with Joe Clark on many things, but I feel for him right now, this reasonable man who has seen his party stolen from him by radical social conservatives.