Talk:Randy Hillier/Archive 1

Archive 1

Hillier on Global Warming

I've just deleted a paragraph that had read:

"Hillier has stated that climate change is predominantly a natural process and that there is nothing inherently damaging about greenhouse gases released via human activity, which he says are not necessarily the primary source of global warming."

I should explain my logic: There's no doubt that Hillier took the stand noted above. But climate change skepticism is not what makes him a noteworthy person, by the standards used at Wikipedia. There are many skeptics, and many non-skeptics. Some of them have articles that dwell on their skepticism or belief in detail, becaus that's what makes them noteworthy people (Bjorn Lomborg, Al Gore, etc.). But Hillier's advocacy was merely a comment made in the context of a debate before the Ottawa Citizen's editorial board over whether Ontario should shut down its coal-fired electricity-generating plants. To my knowledge, Hillier had never publicly stated an opinion on global warming in a public forum before this.

Anyway, for context, here's the entire relevant section of the newspaper article in which the comment was noted:

"With Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, bringing the fear of global warming to the masses, it's a rare politician these days who will stand up as a skeptic of climate change.

"But Randy Hillier, an Eastern Ontario Conservative candidate, isn't shy about casting doubt on the prevailing scientific theory about global warming.

" 'I don't see greenhouse gases as the terrible evil that some others see. We've had periods of global warming and global cooling in the past,' Mr. Hillier, the Tory candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, told a Citizen editorial board this week.

"Mr. Hillier made the comments while arguing in favour of keeping Ontario's coal-burning power plants open. The four power plants can generate 6,400 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 6.4 million homes. But they are a major source of greenhouse gases and smog-causing pollutants.

"Mr. Hillier said the smoggy pollutants could be removed by scrubbers installed on the smokestacks. As to the greenhouse gases, don't worry about them, Mr. Hillier said.

" 'There's many different people out there with opposing views on greenhouse gases.'

"Mr. Hillier's comments brought a huffy response from Green party candidate Rolly Montpellier, who argued that climate change caused by greenhouse gases is an urgent environmental issue."

(See Kate Jaimet, "Greenhouse gases 'not evil': PC candidate". Ottawa Citizen, Sept. 13, 2007.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Proud Landowner (talk • contribs) 12:50, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Tax Controversy

I don't think the reference to his "tax controversy" is biased. Many Wikipedia articles have "Controversy" sections. The Canadian Press writes that Hudak "hasn’t spoken to Randy Hillier since the controversy over unpaid taxes erupted." I think the reference to "controversy" should be re-instated.Rhadamanthys.Mann (talk) 05:13, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

Just because other articles have a 'controversy' section doesn't mean that it applies in all situations. I suggest you review WP:NPOV about the right way to frame this issue. Rather than call it a controversy, summarize the facts, provide a reference, and let the reader(s) form their own opinions. It is not the place of Wikipedia to parrot other people's opinions. This violates a number of policies including WP:BLP and WP:What Wikipedia is not. EncyclopediaUpdaticus (talk) 11:59, 15 September 2011 (UTC)

Controversy sections may not be applicable in all circumstances, but how would one be forbidden in this case? I would refer you to the section in the article Bob Dechert. And the reference to "controversy" was not repeating another person's opinion (for example a partisan opponent to Hillier). It was the terminology used by the Canadian Press, a reputable news service. The reference to controversy has been reproduced in a number of reputable newspaper websites. At the least, I think the section should be renamed 2011 re-election campaign and controversy. Rhadamanthys.Mann (talk) 02:50, 16 September 2011 (UTC) Furthermore, reference to the tax controversy, whether referred to as a "controversy" or not, should not be removed completely.Rhadamanthys.Mann (talk) 04:43, 27 September 2011 (UTC)

References

Deleted absurd photo

I've deleted the cartoonish and photoshopped photograph and replaced it with his portrait from the Legislative Assembly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Baffledexperts (talk • contribs) 04:18, 21 February 2018 (UTC)