Just in from the Tory press office:
OTTAWA – Statement by Owen Lippert:
“Since the beginning of the election campaign, I have been employed by the Conservative Party of Canada at Conservative Campaign Headquarters.
“In 2003, I worked in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. I was tasked with – and wrote – a speech for the then Leader of the Opposition. Pressed for time, I was overzealous in copying segments of another world leader’s speech. Neither my superiors in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition nor the Leader of the Opposition was aware that I had done so.
“I apologize to all involved and have resigned my position from the Conservative campaign.”
In GEDS, the government employee directory, Lippert is listed as a senior policy advisor in the office of Bev Oda, the minister for the Canadian International Development Agency.
Irony of ironies: Lippert is the author of a book, which I've not yet read, on “Competitive Strategies for the protection of intellectual property.” Perhaps the Liberals read it?
And here's [an old] bio at The Fraser Institute:
“Owen Lippert holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Following his graduation in 1983, he worked as managing editor for the Asia and World Institute in Taipei, Taiwan. Returning to Canada in 1984, he worked first as a caucus researcher for the Social Credit government and, then as a policy analyst for the Office of the Premier until 1991. He joined the staff of Kim Campbell as press secretary during Campbell's tenure as attorney general of Canada and minister of Justice. In 1993, while an advisor during Campbell's leadership campaign, he taught at Carleton University and the University of British Columbia and he was a senior policy advisor in Industry and Science Canada during Campbell's tenure as Prime Minister. In 1994, Dr. Lippert worked on contract for the Canadian department of Justice before going to work as a senior policy analyst at The Fraser Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1996, he joined the Editorial Board of The Globe & Mail in Toronto. His specialties are public policy and legal reform.”
Yeah! Some poor schmuck has thrown himself on his sword. May he exsanguinate quietly so we can get back to talking about the potential for an impending worldwide financial depression. Come on pretty please? I would settle for a cogent discussion of the 5 million Canadians without a family doctor. I would like the Liberals and the Conservatives and their various spinners, bloggers, war roomers to focus on stuff that actually matters to Canadians. The stuff that Layton and the New Dems seem to be able to keep in their sights.
Right on, Jenn.
Maybe reporters could “go back to their roots” and remmeber what their job actually is. That is, to report the news, not editorialize, not comment, not try to tell us what to believe or what to think. JUST THE FACTS.