Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces serious accusations of plagiarism in his Oxford doctoral thesis, just as the nation heads toward a snap election, throwing his leadership into question at a critical moment for his Liberal Party.
Top Takeaways
- Three academics have identified 10 instances of apparent plagiarism in Carney’s 1995 Oxford doctoral thesis.
- The allegations include copying sections from multiple scholars with only minor wording changes and insufficient attribution.
- Carney’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Margaret Meyer, has defended his work, denying any evidence of plagiarism.
- The scandal emerges at a critical time, with Canada’s parliamentary election scheduled for April 28.
- The controversy pits political opponents against each other, with one accuser being identified as a Conservative donor.
Academic Integrity Called into Question
The National Post report detailing plagiarism accusations against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney comes at a particularly sensitive time, with a federal election just weeks away. Three academics claim to have found 10 instances where Carney allegedly copied content in his 1995 Oxford doctoral thesis without proper attribution. Geoffrey Sigalet, a professor at the University of British Columbia, offered a blunt assessment of the findings.
The allegations are specific and substantial. Carney reportedly copied sections from works by Jeremy C. Stein and H.S. Shin with only minor wording changes. His thesis also frequently referenced Michael E. Porter’s book “The Competitive Advantage of Nations,” with critics claiming insufficient credit was given. According to the reports, the alleged plagiarism is not isolated to a single section but appears throughout the thesis.
Top London paper writes about how Carney plagiarized his way through university. He takes credit for things he never did while dodging responsibility for things he did do.
You can’t believe a word he says. pic.twitter.com/Ke2ZzmyWaZ
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) March 29, 2025
Carney’s Defense and Political Implications
In response to these allegations, Carney’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Margaret Meyer, has come to his defense. She argues that the overlap in language is typical in academic texts and maintains there is no evidence of plagiarism in his work. The Liberal Party has also issued a statement backing Carney and questioning the motivations behind the accusations.
The Liberal Party has noted that Professor Sigalet is a Conservative donor, suggesting political motivations behind the allegations. This defense strategy aims to frame the controversy as a partisan attack rather than a legitimate academic concern. The timing is particularly problematic for Carney, who recently succeeded Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister and called a snap election for April 28, where he will face Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
Academic Standards and Political Career
Oxford University considers plagiarism a serious offense with potential penalties including expulsion. Though Carney completed his thesis nearly 30 years ago, the allegations raise questions about academic integrity that could impact voter perceptions. Carney has had an impressive career trajectory, serving as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, as well as holding positions at Goldman Sachs and Brookfield Asset Management.
Carney holds triple citizenship with Canada, Ireland, and the UK, and has previously attracted attention for his criticism of President Donald Trump during Canada-US tariff disputes. Ironically, the plagiarism scandal comes as relations between Canada and the US appear to be improving, with Trump recently expressing optimism about bilateral relations despite previous tensions.
Sources:
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused of plagiarism in his Oxford thesis
- With federal election looming, Liberal Canadian PM accused of plagiarism while studying at Oxford: report
- Plagiarism Scandal: Canadian PM Mark Carney Accused of Lifting 10 Sections in Oxford PhD Thesis
