Liberal Canadian PM up for election accused of plagiarism while at Oxford: report

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is under fire for allegations of plagiarism in his 1995 doctoral thesis at Oxford University. As he gears up for re-election next month, the National Post reviewed Carney’s thesis, titled “The Dynamic Advantage of Competition,” and found at least 10 instances of apparent plagiarism.

Three university experts analyzed the thesis and discovered that Carney had copied full quotes, paraphrased ideas, and slightly modified sentences from four different sources without proper credit. Geoffrey Sigalet, a professor at the University of British Columbia, condemned Carney’s actions as plagiarism, stating that “He’s just directly repeating without quotations.”

Carney’s campaign defended him, sharing a statement from his former Oxford supervisor, Margaret Meyer, who refuted the allegations. Meyer claimed that there was no evidence of plagiarism in the thesis and that Carney’s work was thoroughly researched and approved by a faculty committee.

However, other experts disagreed, with one anonymous professor asserting that Carney’s thesis met the definition of plagiarism according to Oxford University guidelines. The university defines plagiarism as presenting work or ideas from another source as your own without full acknowledgment.

One of the key examples of plagiarism cited in the report involved Carney closely mirroring a passage from economist Michael E. Porter’s book in his thesis. Carney’s campaign spokesperson, Isabella Orozco-Madison, labeled the accusations as an “irresponsible mischaracterization” of his work.

The possible plagiarism extended throughout the thesis, with sections reportedly copied from other sources with only minor wording changes. Sigalet emphasized that even small wording alterations without proper citation still constituted plagiarism according to Oxford University’s standards.

Plagiarism is considered a serious offense at Oxford University, with potential penalties including expulsion. Despite the controversy surrounding his thesis, Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has had a distinguished career in finance and politics.

While plagiarism allegations have led to resignations and revoked degrees for other public figures in the past, Carney’s campaign has stood by him amidst the accusations. As the election approaches, the spotlight on Carney’s academic integrity adds a new layer of scrutiny to his campaign.

In conclusion, the plagiarism allegations against Carney raise questions about his academic integrity and credibility as a political leader. The controversy surrounding his thesis could have significant implications for his re-election bid and public perception.