A Canadian's View: "the global warming brigade lost much of its sizzle in the past year"

As evidence to the contrary started rolling in and one prominent scientist after another abandoned ship, the global warming brigade lost much of its sizzle in the past year.

With temperatures going down rather than up, the devoted even had to retire the term “global warming” altogether.

But the wheels really started coming off the newly branded climate change bandwagon when Hollywood and a host of high-profile celebrities began admonishing we puny mortals about changing our ways for the sake of the planet.

There’s something irritating about being lectured on the finer points of energy conservation by jet-flying, limousine-riding, estate-living elites with their Olympic-sized swimming pools, vacation homes and garages full of European sports cars.

And this past week brought about a pitiable scene that will only further alienate the alarmists from the rest of us.

The four least memorable, demonstrably inept prime ministers of the last half-century gathered for a sad call to action to combat climate change. John Turner, Joe Clark, Kim Campbell and Paul Martin (remember him; the guy who was going to win 250 seats and govern for four terms?) are part of a coalition critical of the Harper government’s environmental record.

Their many years of public service are not to be discounted. But when it came to leadership, this is truly the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. Combined, the four of them barely lasted a full term as PM.

Their gaffes, miscalculations and historical performances of under-achievement are at once mind numbing and laughable. Each proved to be a walking disaster at the helm who was way, way in over their head.

But a coalition calling itself “Canadians for Climate Leadership” trotted the four of them out as though they were the Montreal Canadiens of the 1970s. The sad sack Vancouver Canucks of those depressing Pacific Coliseum days might be a more fitting sports analogy.

It’s really quite rich that this quorum of failed leaders would have the gall to demand we do more about the environment when each and every one of them gave the issue a pass during public life. Paul Martin’s hypocrisy is especially disturbing.

No doubt the coalition was waiting for return calls from Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney but ultimately had to settle on the B-team.

It’s akin to going to a Star Trek Convention hoping for William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy but it turns out the keynote speaker is that guy in the reptile suit that Captain Kirk karate-chopped into submission.

Many are completely fed up with the reckless hysteria and junk science the climate change thesis is founded on.

And it would be so sweet if the four failed former PMs leave the cause in the same state of shamble and disarray they did their political parties.

John Martin, a criminologist at the University of the Fraser Valley, can be reached at John.Martin@ucfv.ca