Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Rick Nicholls is no longer an independent in the Ontario legislature. He's joined the Ontario Party.
If you haven't heard of the Ontario Party, it started in 2018 and ran a handful of candidates in the last provincial election, but Nicholls is its first sitting member.
Nicholls became an independent in August after Premier Doug Ford removed him from caucus for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nicholls said, "The Ford Progressives have lost their moral, conservative compass. I'm choosing to be part of a positive movement that will bring back true conservatism to the people of this province."
Last week, Nicholls expressed his support as former Conservative MP Derek Sloan took the helm of the party.
Sloan was ejected from the Conservative caucus after accepting a donation from a white nationalist. Although, Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said it came after a pattern of what he called "destructive behaviour."
"I look forward to working with Derek Sloan and the entire Ontario Party, as we bring our shared, conservative values forward to oppose Doug Ford's threat to our freedoms and democracy in Ontario," wrote Nicholls.
Nicholls has represented Chatham-Kent-Leamington since 2011.
