Hoax regarding Canada’s “new” Copenhagen stance
Fortunately I saw it for what is was, but a hoax e-mail went out today giving reporters the impression that Environment Canada had dramatically changed its tune regarding climate change policy. The fake press release, designed to look like it was coming from Environment Canada, refers to a new policy called Agenda 2020. It would set a binding emissions reduction target of 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, compared to the 3 per cent committed by the government today. The press release, which has made up quotes from Environment Minister Jim Prentice, also promises to contribute 1 per cent of Canada’s GDP, or $13 billion, in 2010 toward a climate debate mechanism that would help developing countries adapt. The release came from www.enviro-canada.ca, which is a Web address that has been forwarded to the real Environment Ministry Web site at www.ec.gc.ca.
What’s perhaps even funnier is that an hour later another press release was sent out, purporting to come from the real Environment Canada, denouncing the earlier “spoof” e-mail and claiming the story had been picked up by the Wall Street Journal, European edition (seems like a spoof site as well). That second e-mail came from www.ec-gc.ca, also a fake Web address. Seems the hoaxsters are doing this to throw off the international media so that when the real Government of Canada press release comes out, nobody will know what’s true and what’s not true.
Will be interesting to see how this one plays out…
Tyler Hamilton is editor-in-chief of Corporate Knights magazine and a business columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the clean technology and green energy market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Probably the best hoax of all is that Canada is at this conference at all. I live in Montreal and am astounded at the audacity of the Canadian Government even pretending that it is green. There is a vast tract of land that runs through the city known as the Lachine Canal which is operated by Parks Canada. The Canadian Government has turned this once wild sanctuary for birds into a green lawn. It has systematically clear cut the entire length of the canal by removing trees and shrubs. In addition this destruction has resulted in the loss of habitat for many different types of birds. The destruction includes the shorelines which were home to nesting Canada Geese and Ducks.
In an email to Parks Canada asking why this was happening Mr. Daniel Beaudin responded that Parks Canada only removed trees/ shrubs that were considered weakened or dead and that the clear cutting to the shoreline was done 2 times a year for safer access to the canal.
What concerns me is that this all happens at odd hours, and is done in small sections systematically so that it is not noticed until everything is clear cut. In the past year acres of shrubs have disappeared and I can tell you it has more to do with cheap maintenance (massive gas powered lawn mowers are used) than it has to do with the safety of citizens. If safety was of utmost importance Parks Canada would erect rails along the canals edge along supposed dangerous spots.
I’ve yet to hear of someone falling into the canal.
Canada is not the place the world thinks it is. SHAME ON US.