Cell Phones, Global Warming, and Irrationality

McGuinty's Presumption of Harm Makes for Bad Government Policy

Premier's willingness to presume cellphones harmful a concern with approach of CO2 emissions talks at Council of the Federation meeting

July 15, 2008, Toronto, Ontario - With CO2 emissions talks slated to be the focus of the Council of the Federation meeting of 13 provincial and territorial leaders tomorrow, Freedom Party leader Paul McKeever today is condemning Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's willingness to found government warnings, legislation or policy upon unfounded presumptions.  The Canadian Press reported yesterday that Premier McGuinty is advising parents to limit their childrens' cellphone use "until more scientific evidence proves their safety".

"It is dangerous, unwise, and wholly unacceptable for government to issue warnings, or to found legislation or policy, upon a presumption of harm", says McKeever.  "It is unscientific and irrational to impose a restriction, prohibition, or mandate upon something until it is proven not to be harmful.  Such a practice requires the opponent of such regulation to prove the null hypothesis, which is literally impossible. 

"Newspapers daily are chock full of reports about unscientific, irrational Chicken Littles who argue that we must restrict carbon dioxide emissions just in case they might drive catastrophic global warming in the future.  Now, with the premiers about to discuss climate change, we have disturbing evidence that the premier engages in the same unscientific, irrational practice when it comes to the possibility or extent of man's contribution to climate change. 

"Such irrationality is the starting point of extremely bad, and extremely costly, government policy.  Good governance requires that no law or directive be issued, and no penny be spent, upon an alleged possibility for which there is no statistically significant physical evidence.  When I hear the premier presuming harm, I cannot help but anticipate billions of individuals' earnings being flushed down a government toilet."

Tel: 1-800-830-3301
web: https://freedomparty.on.ca