OTTAWA --- Citing media "ignorance and bigotry" over his creationist beliefs, B.C. MP James Lunney announced Tuesday he is leaving the Conservative caucus to sit as an independent.

The Nanaimo-Alberni MP, a chiropractor and devout Christian first elected under the Canadian Alliance banner in 2000, caused a stir in late February with comments on social media challenging the theory of evolution.

He said media scrutiny of those comments has led to his decision to distance himself from the party in the lead-up to the scheduled October election.

In a news release Lunney, who is not seeking re-election, noted that media coverage of those comments also referred to his previous statements questioning established science relating to both evolution and climate change.

The reports also noted that Lunney is among those who have suggested there is a link between vaccines and autism, despite the lack of scientific evidence to substantiate those claims.

"In a society normally proud of embracing difference, the role of the media and partisan politics in inciting social bigotry and intolerance should be questioned," he said in the release.

"Such ignorance and bigotry cloaked in defence of science is as repugnant as bigotry of any other origin.

"It is based in a false construct from another century and is a flagrant violation of a society that is multicultural, multi-racial and multi faith and strives to be accepting of differences."

Lunney wasn't immediately available for comment, but an aide said he plans to address the House of Commons Wednesday.

The news release indicated that he wants to be free from party constraints as he expresses his views.

"Given the circling trolls, I do not intend to entangle the most multi-racial, multicultural and multi-faith caucus in parliamentary history in my decision to defend my beliefs."

Lunney's news release did not provide examples of media coverage he considered bigoted.

The MP's February comment on evolution was in response to a dust-up in the Ontario Legislature after a Progressive Conservative member, Rick Nicholls, told the media he doesn't believe in evolution.

"Stop calling evolution fact!" Lunney tweeted in defence of Nicholls.

Lunney elaborated on his views in a 2009 statement in the House of Commons.

"Any scientist who declares that the theory of evolution is a fact has already abandoned the foundations of science, for science establishes fact through the study of things observable and reproducible," Lunney told MPs.

"Since origins can neither be reproduced nor observed, they remain the realm of hypothesis.

"The evolutionist may disagree, but neither can produce Darwin as a witness to prove his point. The evolutionist may genuinely see his ancestor in a monkey, but many modern scientists interpret the same evidence in favour of creation and a Creator."

poneil@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/poneilinottawa