Carleton PC candidate says she doesn't believe climate change is man-made

The Ontario PC candidate for Carleton saidshe doesn't believe climate change is man-made at an all-candidates forum in the south Ottawa community of GreelyWednesday night.

Goldie Ghamarihad repeated her party's pledge to eliminate the cap-and-trade system and fight the federally imposed carbon tax during the forum.

Then she was asked an audience-submitted question about whetherhuman activity causes climate change.

"I believe climate change is real. I don't believe climate change is man-made and I certainly don't believe that the people of Carleton are at fault for climate change," she said.

Almost all climate scientists agree that human activity isthe driving force in climate change.

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In the closing portion of the debate, candidates were able to ask each other direct questions.

Liberal candidate Theresa Qadripressed Ghamariover statements she made at a Sunday debate in Stittsville about whether cars emit pollution.

Ghamari said her point was that Canada's carbon emissions are twoper cent ofglobal emissions, of which cars are a small part.

"The reality is that 70 per cent of global carbon emissions come from multinational corporations,"Ghamarisaid.

"So the reality is that if you are not driving your car because of increased carbon prices, that's not going to make a difference."

Ghamarisupportedformer PC leader Patrick Brown, who was going to impose a carbon tax.

During an intermission in the debate, Ghamari told CBC that the PCswould be consulting on a new climate policy, but the party iscommitted to ending carbon taxation.

Climate change not man-made, PC candidate says

6 years ago

Duration 0:47

Goldie Ghamari, Ontario PC candidate for Carleton, says climate change is not man-made.

'We've come so far:' Liberal candidate

Qadri said the carbon tax will be imposed by the federal government and that it would be a mistake to get rid of Ontario's cap-and-trade system.

"We've come so far with clean air, less asthma. Why do we want to go backwards,why don't we want to move forward with the environment?" she said.

Green candidate Gordon Kubaneksaid he and his party believe in man-made climate change and that thereare things the province should do to prevent it.

NDP candidate Courtney Potter acknowledged humans contribute to climate change.

Jay Tysick, a former candidate for the PC nomination in the riding who is now running for his own party, said Ontario should impose tariffs on other countries who don't have manufacturing processes that are as clean as the province's.

Libertarian Party candidate Jean-Serge Brissonsaid he wants the gas tax replaced with road user fees.

The debate also covered a broad range of other issues including hydro prices, long-term care for aging baby boomers, the sex educationcurriculum, tolls on highways and services in rural communities.