Senators Diane Bellemare, Michel Rivard quit Conservative caucus

Two Quebec senators are leaving the Conservative caucusone with the hope of reforming the upper chamber, the other because he was sidelined during the election campaign.

Diane Bellemare andMichelRivardwill join the 11 other independent senators.

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Rivardtold the CBC he was leaving the Tory caucus because he was pushed aside during the fall election campaign, even though the party was struggling in Quebec.

As forBellemare, she said her decision to leave the Conservative caucus was motivated by a desire to restore the Senate's political relevance.

"Personally,I feel that I will be able to fulfilmy 'second reflection'role and represent the best interests of my province by serving as an independent senator," Bellemaresaid in a statement.

Bellemareis hoping to organize the otherindependent senators to give them more of a voice in the Senate.

If she was able to convince 12 senators to go along with her plan, Rivard said they could qualify for research resources.

Another former Conservative senator from Quebec who now sits as an independent, Jacques Demers, welcomed Bellemare's proposal.The move could help independent senators sit on committees, Demerssaid.

Along with 13 independent senators, there are 26 Liberal senators who no longer caucus with the party.

Rivardwill only sit as an independent for three months, before reaching the mandatory retirementage of 75.Hewas appointed in 2008.

Bellemarewas appointed by the Tories in 2012.