Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Scott Reid

Conservative on Strong and Free Elections Act 2026-04-24

177 words · 14 sentences · 15 clauses

Replying to Sherry Romanado (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I did, in fact, work with my colleague on the electoral reform committee. I enjoyed working with him on that. I would like to get his opinion on whether we should also be looking at the following, in terms of eliminating the longest ballot. I know that every candidate who wants to present in a federal election has to fill out a nomination paper as a candidate with Elections Canada and make solemn declarations on that form. Could the member provide an opinion on whether one of those declarations should be something along the lines of “I fully intend to represent the citizens in this riding”? The reason why they are using the same auditor is that they are not actually incurring or submitting any expenses, as they have no intention to run. Perhaps a solemn declaration with the actual intent of running is something we could add.”

Statement grade

48 / 100, held down by Signal

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Claims 12%Procedure 16%Anecdote 64%Reasoning 7%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 22 wordsto be honest, I think the measures that have been proposed would actually serve the same purpose, basically eliminating non-serious independent candidates. Procedure · 29 wordsI do want to say, though, that we have to be a bit careful about what we put in there. I will just throw this out as a thought.ProcedureOff point Anecdote · 113 wordsIn 2011, the New Democrats won a significant number of seats in Quebec, ¹where the candidates were not resident in the riding and had not visited the riding. It appears that the people who voted for them we actually aware of that fact. This was their way of expressing support for Jack Layton and his vision. After some of them got elected, they went to heroic efforts, in some cases, to move to the area. We all remember Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who went to her riding.²Unearned certainty She did not speak French very well.³ She learned to speak it better. She moved. She raised her son there. The result was that she was re-elected.⁴Anecdote Reasoning · 13 wordsI do not ever want to preclude the possibility of that happening again.

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
AnsweredOf this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 18

13 of 15 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I do want to say, though, that we have to be a bit careful about what we put in there.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I will just throw this out as a thought.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “In 2011, the New Democrats won a significant number of seats in Quebec,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “where the candidates were not resident in the riding and had not visited the riding.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It appears that the people who voted for them we actually aware of that fact.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “This was their way of expressing support for Jack Layton and his vision.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “After some of them got elected, they went to heroic efforts, in some cases, to move to the area.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We all remember Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who went to her riding.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “She did not speak French very well.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “She learned to speak it better.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “She moved.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “She raised her son there.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “The result was that she was re-elected.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

1 of 15 deductions are Relevance

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the point put to the member, and the bill under debate.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I will just throw this out as a thought.”The clause is a filler aside announcing a thought rather than answering the question.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Clarity · 100

1 of 15 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “We all remember”It asserts shared recollection in place of any source for the claim that follows.

Claims · 4

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“In 2011, the New Democrats won a significant number of seats in Quebec”In the 2011 federal election, the New Democratic Party won a significant number of seats in Quebec.search
2“Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who went to her riding”Ruth Ellen Brosseau, elected in 2011, moved to the riding she represented.search
3“She did not speak French very well.”When first elected in 2011, Ruth Ellen Brosseau did not speak French very well.search
4“she was re-elected.”Ruth Ellen Brosseau was re-elected after her first term.search

Analysed on 2026-09-16