UPDATE: I can't believe that I fell for it twice. TWICE. Sigh. Read on for the second phase of the bamboozling operation that unfolded this morning: 

View this document on the department website
Environment Canada Condemns Climate Education Hoax

OTTAWA, Ont. -- September 13, 2011 -- This morning, media and the public were deceived by an unidentified environmental group posing as Environmental Canada representatives. Setting up a counterfeit website, www.ec-gov.ca, the group announced the re-launch of an old campaign that would educate youth about the urgency of combating climate change. A false press release stated that the educational material would drive a campaign for youth inclusion in Canadian climate change strategy development. The Honourable Minister of the Environment Peter Kent condemned the hoax.

The outdated module, What a Difference a Degree Makes, was discontinued in the early nineties to reflect a change in government priorities.

"The government of Canada takes the challenges of climate change seriously," Minister Kent responded. "We have set an ambitious but achievable target to limit greenhouse gas emissions to a 3% increase above 1990 levels."

--30--

For further information:

Melissa Lantsman 
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

To which I can only say, without endorsing such shenanigans but not without a wee bit shame at the temporary failure of my usually hypersensitive hoax-detecting skills: Well played, gentlemen and/or ladies of as yet unknown provenance and motivation, well played.

It's difficult not to be grudgingly impressed -- while still highly disapproving, as climate change policy is, after all, serious business -- at the attention to detail that went into the drafting process, from styling Kent as "Canada's Environment Minister," as is his preference, to the subtle nod to a certain former senior advisor to the prime minister.

Still, it's not nice to use the real names of unwitting communications directors, or, for that matter, force the government to drop everything to defend its environmental policy on such short notice.

As yet, we don't know who was responsible for the faux release. The contact number forwards to a generic voice mail message, and a whois lookup on the associated website -- ec-gov.ca -- reveals that it was registered through DomainsAtCost just last week.  If/when the "unidentified environmental group" comes forward to take responsibility for the prank, I'll update this post with the details.

Stop the virtual presses! According to this press release, the group responsible for the prank is none other than the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition - and they don't sound particularly sorry for causing today's confusion, either:

YOUTH TAKE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO SCHOOL ON CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION
Hoax highlights climate inaction, launches youth led education project

Ottawa, Ont. - September 14 2011 - A group of concerned youth successfully impersonated representatives of Environment Canada this morning by announcing the relaunch of a discontinued climate change education program. What a Difference a Degree Makes, a module delivered to elementary school students during the 1990's, focused on topics of climate change science and human impacts. Through this hoax the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition has highlighted the Canadian Government's deliberate neglect of its responsibility to educate Canadians about climate change.

"Our government does not take climate change and its consequences on our generation seriously," said Malkolm Boothroyd of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. "Programs like What a Difference a Degree Makes show that the Government of Canada used to take the climate crisis seriously, but shifting priorities have placed the interests of polluters above those of current and future generations."

The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition created a look-a-like Environment Canada website which announced the reintroduction of What a Difference a Degree Makes, which was accompanied by press releases distributed to thousands of Canadian journalists. Following this announcement, a number of prominent environmental organizations publicly congratulated Environment Canada on this unexpected yet welcomed change of heart. Eventually, Environment Canada was forced to deny responsibility for re-releasing the desperately needed climate change curriculum. Organizers were deeply concerned that the Government of Canada considered the release of a climate change education program "erroneous information".

"We are excited to take matters into our own hands and launch our own climate change education program, Wings of Change," added Amara Possian of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. "We've been preparing for over a year and over the next eight months, we will be visiting classrooms across Canada, taking on the task of educating thousands of youth about the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change."

Wings of Change will encourage young people to engage politically and provide them with the opportunity to be part of the larger climate movement. This project combines principles of pageantry, theatre and collective artistic expression to deliver messages directly from young people to the halls of political power

Man, those kids are going to be so grounded when the minister finds out about this. NOTE: This is, in fact, the only statement on the matter that has been issued thus far by Environment Canada -- and, one can only hope, the last by either the department or its impersonator, because I'm confused enough as it is.

Statement

False Environment Canada web site

OTTAWA, Ont.  September 14, 2011 -- It has come to our attention that there is a false Environment Canada website circulating with erroneous information about Environment Canada announcements and initiatives. This site is not in any way affiliated with the Government of Canada.

Please note that any information about Environment Canada's activities will be made available on the department's official web and social media sites.