Quebec Conservative MP Richard Martel is quitting his caucus and being appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Mark Carney to sit as an independent.

Mr. Carney made the announcement Tuesday morning as he also appointed three others to the upper chamber, including his principal secretary Tom Pitfield.

Mr. Martel has been an MP since 2018 and will fill one of the current Senate vacancies in Quebec.

He resigned as an MP on Tuesday morning, effective immediately, and is the fifth Conservative to leave his party’s caucus.

More to come.