OTTAWA–On his way to Copenhagen for climate change talks, Environment Minister Jim Prentice used a stop in London to insult the Pembina Institute, calling their criticism of Canada’s climate change inaction “tired and shopworn” and awarding them his own “Hot Air” award.

“They must have hit a nerve,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “I guess after years of inaction the Minister has run out of excuses and has only insults.”

This past week in Copenhagen environmental groups from around the globe have expressed their unhappiness with Canada by awarding our Country with several Fossil of the Day awards.

“Most of the world is annoyed at Canada right now for our failures on climate change,” said Layton, who is preparing to go to Copenhagen early next week. “Rather than pointing fingers, making excuses and insulting people for justified criticism, the Minister should focus on making Canada a real global partner on reducing greenhouse gases.”