Mike O'Shaughnessy
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Mike O'Shaughnessy is a city councillor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for the Old Kildonan ward. He is a former furniture salesman and Winnipeg Free Press City Hall reporter. He was first elected in 1974, and re-elected in 1977 for the Kildonan Park ward. He left politics at the end of 1980 and returned in the Old Kildonan ward in 1986. He has represented that ward ever since and has announced that he will retire from municipal politics at the end of his present term in 2010. His 30 years in office will make him the longest serving politician in the 120+year history of Winnipeg.
[edit] Global warming skepticism
During an executive policy committee meeting on January 11, 2006 Mr. O'Shaughnessy questioned the need for greenhouse-gas reduction targets:
"Climate change? We aren't going to do anything about it. It's not up to us; it's up to God," O'Shaughnessy said. "I don't believe in climate change. It's nonsense."[1].
The Mayor of Winnipeg, Sam Katz, quelled the ensuing laughter by saying "There can only be one wacko at the table at one time,". Mr. O'Shaughnessy clarified his comment later by explaining he believes in climate change, but he believes natural cycles rather than humans are to blame.