Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Christopher Dummitt: Canada has its own academic fakery problem

DEI discrimination is now written into the basic fabric of our institutions, incentivizing its use

Canada has its own Jason Ardays — our versions of the Black British academic who recently committed suicide after it was revealed that he plagiarized much of his academic work and invented a fabulist version of his personal history.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

The Canadian versions might not be as outlandish — but they almost certainly exist. The system incentivizes their creation.

Christopher Dummitt: Canada has its own academic fakery problem Back to video

Having concocted a caricature of Canadian society as ghoulishly racist, where skin colour and background are said to continuously limit life chances, those who peddle this story of never-ending systemic racism are determined to find those who persevere despite the odds. Present yourself as a social victim who overcame adversity, and there is a market for your story.

Just think of the list of pretendians over recent years — academics, writers, and celebrities who won jobs and accolades based on supposed Indigenous ancestry. Buffy Sainte-Marie claimed a fake Indian identity for decades, her music said to reflect Indigenous roots, before she was outed as an American of English and Italian ancestry whose family had changed its name to combat anti-Italian sentiment after the Second........

© National Post