Canadian Alliance Caught Plagiarizing

Bob Rae recently released information proving that a crucial speech given by the Leader of the Opposition in 2003 was stolen from a speech given by the Prime Minister of Australia. What makes the act of plagiarism worse is it pertained to the issue of the War in Iraq. The speech was pro the war which at the time, and even more so now, the majority of Canadians oppose. Bob Rae is quoted as saying, “How does a political leader in Canada’s Parliament, on such a crucial issue, end up giving the exact same speech as another country’s leader, let alone one who was a key member of George W. Bush’s Coalition of the Willing?”

Plagarism in da House

Now this is an interesting one to pin down. I have to say first kudos to the liberals. I am sure the campaign ads showing the former Australian PM and the former Leader of the Opposition saying the speech as a duet will be very influential. But, then, people are fickle and really, overall, it doesn't seem all that pertinent to the current political climate. After all we are talking about the PM not the Leader of the Opposition, the Conservatives not the Alliance, etc, etc. On the other hand, Harper was the leader of that defunct party as well.

Considering the speech was given in Australia just 36 hours before Harper performed the encore, how is it nobody noticed? Surely someone in the Liberal caucus noticed the similarities. To say they didn't would mean nobody follows Aussie politics and that is a little bit frightening. What I am trying to say is at the time the Liberals did not need to smear the Canadian Alliance because the Alliance was never going to win. But now that the Conservatives have won the previous election, and could end up with a majority in this election, the Liberals are releasing the information.

Oh and did I mention Bob Rae used to lead the Ontario NDP? So in conclusion vote Green!