BC Liberal MLA’s Jon Rustad, who was recently ousted from the party for reposting a tweet questioning the role of carbon dioxide in climate change, said the government’s climate policy revolving around CO2 emissions was not supported by opposing data. ignoring and “intentionally hurting people.” By making life unmanageable.
Rastad, a former cabinet minister who now represents Lake Nechako as an independent MLA, said recent policies mandating a reduction in fossil fuel use and a reduction in fertilizer emissions are not acknowledging human suffering. It is said to be driven by ‘elitist’. These policies bring
“These approaches being implemented by the government have impacted all three. [human needs] in terms of cost. It’s pushing up housing costs, energy costs, and food costs. That’s the crux of what we need to survive. ’” Rastad said in an interview.
“If these policies are designed to make it difficult for people to survive, they are not right. Governments should not do that.”
Rustad was first elected in 2005. He served as Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and later he served as Minister of Forests, Land, and Natural Resource Operations under Christy Clark’s Liberals.
The MLA announced on August 18, after Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore shared a Twitter post challenging the idea that carbon dioxide was the “global warming control knob” on climate change. expelled from the caucuses.
Moore tweeted, paper Australian author Tony Thomas, citing data from temperature satellites monitored by the University of Alabama in Huntsville, said Australia “has not seen a linear warming trend in the decade to 1 August 2022.” ”, he said.
In an article published in Quadrant Online, an Australian literary, cultural and political journal on 14 August, Thomas also said the organization: Australian Institute of Marine Science “We are struggling to deal with the Great Barrier Reef Enjoying the largest area of coral reef ever recorded“
“So when I see the Australian government posting information about temperatures, reefs, etc., I say, ‘Okay, let’s post these things.’ Let’s start talking about these kinds of issues.” Rustad said in an interview.
‘Come on’
Having been dismissed from the caucuses, Mr Rastad holds no animosity towards his former party leadership, but said the BC Liberal Party “has been hijacked by awakening elitism at this point”. rice field.
“We used to be a party that believed in free speech, free legislative votes, it was okay to have different opinions, and we were the big tent, but that has changed,” he said. Told.
Rastad said the reason the current leadership of the BC Liberal Party is “fearful” of allowing free speech, especially on climate change issues, is that the party risks being targeted by environmental elites and losing votes. He said it was because he was afraid.
“These NGOs pushing this environmental agenda are … [they have] It’s also pervasive in political parties like the NDP and BC Liberal, which is sad. “
The Epoch Times reached out to the BC Liberal Party for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.
Rustad warns that democracy is in danger.
“Anyone who brings up science or opinion that goes against today’s doctrine will be immediately shut down, fired, or humiliated into silence,” he said.
As an independent MLA, Rustad says he supports candidates who share his view that environmental elitist policies are hurting BC residents and distorting their quality of life.
“I think it’s time to say enough is enough and to stand up and say ‘no.'”
Expulsion from caucuses
Rustad, who has worked in the forestry industry for more than 20 years, quickly drew criticism from BC Liberal Party leader Kevin Falcon in a Twitter post highlighting that he did not speak on behalf of the caucuses on climate change issues. .
“Let me be clear. # climate change It’s one of the most significant threats facing our future,” Falcon said. twitter August 17th. @bcliberals We are committed to restoring BC’s position as a global leader in climate change action and climate policy. “
Falcon is statement The next day I launched Rastad from the caucuses.
Rastad said he believes climate change must be addressed, but does not believe it constitutes an existential threat or an “emergency.”
He added that he supports moving away from fossil fuels and creating alternative energy sources, but not raising fossil fuel costs to the point where food and energy costs rise. and farmers affected by the cost of fuel.
“What do you think will happen if farmers’ costs go up? Either the cost of food goes up, or they have to use less fertilizer, so there is less food available and ultimately costs go up significantly. “It will be higher,” he said.
“We are facing a global food crisis and shortage. On many levels, it is wrong to cut agricultural production.”
He stressed the need for energy self-sufficiency so that the state would not be vulnerable to external threats.
“When you look at what is happening in Europe right now, and what is happening in other countries around the world, it becomes very clear that we need to be energy self-sufficient, both in terms of electricity and petrol. increase.”
Energy self-sufficiency may also mean British Columbia has alternatives such as wind, solar and run-of-river power development, but Rustad said, “We need to be realistic about that. ‘ said.
“People need to understand the cost of doing that, because it costs more,” he said.
“If people think they want these negative effects, that’s fine and the government can do it. But the government[s] They should not be implemented without an open and honest discussion of what they mean and how people are affected. “
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Isaac Teo is a Toronto-based reporter for the Epoch Times.