Conservative MP dismisses human role in climate change

Jill Mahoney Globe and Mail Update Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 10:38AM EST

A Conservative MP claims only “a few scientists" believe carbon dioxide causes global warming, according to e-mails obtained by an environmental group. In e-mails sent to several voters, British Columbia MP Colin Mayes wrote that the cause of climate change “has yet to be substantiated". “…I am careful not to over react and spend billions of taxpayer dollars because a few scientists say CO2 is causing the planet to warm," the e-mail says.

At the current Copenhagen climate summit, countries are trying to reach a new deal to curb emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which is produced from the burning of fossil fuels. A panel of respected atmospheric scientists organized by the UN said the evidence for human-caused global warming was “unequivocal" in a 2007 report. They also warned of a future of droughts, mass animal extinctions and killer heat waves if humans fail to deal with climate change.

The Climate Action Network obtained the e-mails, which originated from Mr. Mayes's Parliamentary account and were sent to at least three people who had contacted the MP about the government's stance on global warming. Mr. Mayes, who represents Okanagan-Shuswap, sent virtually identical replies to each of the people, who forwarded the correspondence to the environmental group.Mr. Mayes did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Graham Saul, the group's executive director, called the e-mails “outrageous" and urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to clarify his government's position. “Is the science of climate change really still under debate in the Conservative Party of Canada?" Mr. Saul said in an interview from Copenhagen. “I hope not, but I think Harper has to explain. What is Harper's reaction to the fact that he has Members of Parliament that are sending out e-mails suggesting that whether … humans are causing climate change is still in doubt?"

In October, Mr. Mayes was one of several Conservative MPs who landed in hot water for presenting government cheques bearing the Conservative Party logo and MPs' names. In 2006, Mr. Mayes apologized for writing columns saying it may be time for journalists to be “hauled off in handcuffs" for writing misleading articles.
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Conservative MP Dismisses the Science of Climate Change
OTTAWA--Climate Action Network Canada has obtained recent email correspondence from Conservative Member of Parliament Colin Mayes (Okanagan Shuswap) dismissing the science of climate change stating just “a few scientists say CO2 is causing the planet to warm.”

The following is a statement by Climate Action Network Canada:

“Given the disgraceful and obstructive behavior of the Harper Government in Copenhagen, and the revelation of their secret plan to let emissions rise, it is a legitimate question to ask if Prime Minister Harper shares his MP’s views on the science of climate change. Prime Minister Harper and his Environment Minister no longer get to pay lip service to the science of climate change and do nothing about it,” said Graham Saul of the Climate Action Network Canada.

Please find the original email exchange between MP Colin Mayes and his constituents.