Canada’s liberal opposition claims that current Prime Minister Stephen Harper plagiarized a speech five years ago. According to the liberals, Harper gave the speech as opposition leader when he tried to convince his government to send troops to Iraq. The liberals, who formed the government then, now claim that over 50% of this speech was stolen from then Prime Minister of Australia John Howard.

The accusations come shortly before elections will be held in Canada, which were organized because Harper believed he needed more support in Parliament in order to pursue his more conservative policies.

The elections will be held October 14. Polls indicate that Harper’s goal – of creating a more solid base for his government administration – will be achieved.

Harper’s office reacted by saying that the speech was delivered five years ago, and that Canada’s conservatives were not willing to get into a debate about something that happened so long ago. Furthermore, Harper’s spokesman said, talking about this speech is not exactly in the interest of the Canadian people.

The tactic and goal of the liberals is clear; they hope to create a controversy and undermine Harper’s credibility. If they succeed in making this a big issue, it may cost the conservatives some votes.

However, it seems unlikely that the issue will make much of a difference. Accusing politicians of plagiarizing has been attemped in the past, but it has seldom paid of. Giving a speech is not the same as writing an academical paper. There is no need, officially at least, to explain what sources you used for your speech, and so on. It does prove, of course, that Harper failed to surround himself with creative, good writers. If he had, he would not have felt the need to steal Howard’s speech.