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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative on Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders 2026-04-27

181 words · 11 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I have said this a great deal already this afternoon: It is a fairly straightforward motion that says that if a party makes up a majority of the membership on the floor of the House of Commons, it gets to have a majority of the members on the standing committees. At the end of the day, the Conservatives are putting forward an argument. If a party had a 172‑seat majority and one person walked over to the opposition, the opposition is saying that it would be taking the position it is taking right now. That would be ridiculous. We know that it would not do that. Let us take a look at the tradition, heritage and history of Parliament. I think we recognize that a majority is in fact a majority that should be on the standing committees.”

Statement grade

B+

Average 84 / 100

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

Aside 4%Procedure 16%Claims 41%Reasoning 23%Positioning 6%The ask 10%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 7 wordsthat is not a very good question, AsidePartly on pointProcedure · 5 wordsbut I will answer it.Procedure Claims · 26 wordsIf my colleague wants to talk about history, we can say that the past 11 years have been quite disappointing in terms of this government’s decisions. Procedure · 24 wordsAs I said in my speech, I think it is very important to stop focusing on the minutiae and the right to do something.Procedure Claims · 41 wordsThe Liberals are always telling us that they have the right to do this or that, even if it is unethical. There is a comma or a period in the law somewhere that gives them the right to act that way. Reasoning · 5 wordsHowever, who makes the laws? Claims · 7 wordsOrdinary people are fed up with this. Reasoning · 23 wordsThey want a government that prioritizes ethics, a government that understands that doing what is ethical is harder than doing what is allowed. Positioning · 10 wordsThey want a government that will be there for them.PositioningPartly on point Reasoning · 14 wordsCitizens created institutions to serve them, not so that those institutions could serve themselves. The ask · 19 wordsMy response to my colleague is that perhaps the government should adapt to the citizens who voted for it.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 66

4 of 10 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “that is not a very good question,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “but I will answer it.”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 “As I said in my speech, I think it is very important to stop focusing on the minutiae and the right to do something.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “They want a government that will be there for them.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 71

6 of 10 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 comment put to the member, and the motion under debate.

Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “that is not a very good question,”A remark on the quality of the comment, not on its points or the motion.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “However, who makes the laws?”A rhetorical question about who makes laws, leading to a general point rather than the motion or the comment’s point.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “Ordinary people are fed up with this.”About public frustration with government generally, not the committee composition issue before the House.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “They want a government that prioritizes ethics, a government that understands that doing what is ethical is harder than doing what is allowed.”About wanting an ethical government in general terms, not the motion’s proposal on Standing Orders.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “They want a government that will be there for them.”A general wish about government being there for citizens, not the comment’s points or the motion.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “My response to my colleague is that perhaps the government should adapt to the citizens who voted for it.”A general call for the government to adapt to citizens, not the committee composition issue raised.

Respect · 100

0 of 10 deductions are Respect

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.

Nothing lost points.

Clarity · 100

0 of 10 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 0

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

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-10-20