Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Mario Simard

Bloc Québécois on Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 2026-05-01

1342 words · 89 sentences · 109 clauses

Statement grade

Average 92 / 100

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

Aside 2%Claims 66%Thanks 1%Procedure 12%Positioning 10%Reasoning 10%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 8 wordsthat comes as a surprise to no one.AsideUnearned certainty Claims · 35 wordsMy colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé made it very clear that the Bloc Québécois is disappointed in the budget statement, as did my colleague from Mirabel in his response to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue. Thanks · 19 wordsI think that his answer was very well put and it showed all the shortcomings of the economic update.Thanks Claims · 29 wordsThis week, in response to oral questions, I heard my Liberal colleagues say many times that they want to build Canada. The update document does talk about building Canada. Procedure · 8 wordsHowever, I would like to finish the sentence, ProcedurePositioning · 22 wordsbecause I think that, in reality, they are building Canada while ignoring Quebec. That is what the document should have been called, PositioningProcedure · 65 wordsand I will explain why. I have a little tip for my colleagues. When we want to understand the intent of a government document or proposal, like a budget or an update, there is usually a fairly simple trick. All anyone has to do is search how many times certain words appear in the document. My colleagues will see where I am going with this.Procedure Claims · 47 wordsJust for fun, I checked to see how many times the word “forest” or “forestry” appears in the economic update. Those words appear six times.¹ Then, I checked to see how many times the word “aluminum” appears in the economic update. We see that word 12 times, ²Aside · 5 wordswhich is a bit better.Aside Claims · 50 wordsI also checked to see how often the term “climate change” was used, and the answer is five times.³ When I searched for the word “gas”, I hit the jackpot at 43 times, ⁴but the real winner was the word “oil”, which is used 153 times in the economic update.⁵ Procedure · 6 wordsWhy am I talking about this?Procedure Positioning · 8 wordsWe immediately see where the government’s priorities lie.Positioning Reasoning · 29 wordsGiven what is happening right now, the economic update should have responded to the tariff crisis to help the industries in Canada that are currently facing the highest tariffs. Positioning · 10 wordsWhich two industries in Canada are facing the highest tariffs?Positioning Claims · 196 wordsFirst, there is the aluminum industry. As we know, primary aluminum producers are managing to get by without too many problems, but this is catastrophic for aluminum processors. The 50% tariffs are catastrophic for them.⁶ Many are operating on credit and struggling to stay afloat right now. There will be consolidations unless the government takes action. That is for the aluminum industry, which is mentioned only 12 times in the economic update. The other sector facing the highest tariffs, and the one most severely impacted by U.S. policies, is the forestry sector. It is subject to 45% tariffs.⁷ This figure is the sum of a 10% tariff, countervailing duties, ⁸and anti-dumping duties. This means that every time a forestry producer ships $100 worth of products to the United States, $45 is taken from them, stolen. Not many companies can survive with margins cut by 45%. There is another key factor that has emerged in recent weeks. In fact, we were the ones who sounded the alarm for the government, pointing out that, under a new decree, 25% of the total value of aluminum products will now be subject to tariffs, ⁹which is destroying Quebec’s industrial base. Positioning · 7 wordsIs this addressed in the economic update?Positioning Claims · 18 wordsNo, at no point does it offer a solution to the problems facing the aluminum and forestry sectors. Positioning · 14 wordsThis makes me think that the goal is to build Canada while ignoring Quebec.Positioning Procedure · 18 wordsI will return to the many repeated proposals we have made. I can talk about that right now.Procedure Claims · 115 wordsTime and again, we have proposed solutions to the government for addressing the tariff crisis surrounding softwood lumber. The government has always turned a deaf ear to them. What we see in the economic update when the word “forest” appears is a rehashing of what was announced back in August and subsequently expanded. Nothing is new under the sun. We are still in the same position with a liquidity program ill-suited to the needs of people in the industry. We have made concrete proposals to the government with people involved in the forestry sector. We proposed that the government buy back a portion of the countervailing and anti-dumping duties at the end of each month. Reasoning · 35 wordsThe government would not necessarily have to pay out this money, since the anti-dumping duties that are currently being held in the United States will eventually be recovered. The government could therefore recoup its costs. Claims · 25 wordsWe proposed this solution, but the government never wanted to talk to the Bloc Québécois to try to implement it. The same goes for aluminum. Procedure · 18 wordsIf the economic update is about building Canada while ignoring Quebec, what does this economic update actually contain?Procedure Claims · 64 wordsIn my view, the government’s primary intention is to build infrastructure to export energy. The fact that the word “gas” appears 43 times and the word “oil” appears 153 times clearly reflects the government’s intention to build oil and gas infrastructure in order to export more oil and gas. We had this discussion at the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. We heard from Hydro-Québec. Aside · 8 wordsSometimes I like to be a bit mischievous.Aside Claims · 72 wordsI asked Hydro‑Québec, which has built two major lines allowing Quebec to export energy to the United States, one to New York and the other to Massachusetts, how much financial support it had received from the federal government to do so. The answer was zero. The federal government did not offer Hydro-Québec a single penny in financial support to develop this energy export infrastructure.¹⁰ We are talking about clean energy, about hydroelectricity. Positioning · 14 wordsIt is a different story when it comes to the oil and gas sector.Positioning Procedure · 6 wordsWhat does the economic update contain?Procedure Claims · 49 wordsIt includes an increase in the carbon capture and storage tax credit.¹¹ That information is not coming from me. The former environment minister has stated on numerous occasions that more money has been invested in promoting carbon capture and storage than in certain carbon capture and storage projects themselves. Positioning · 5 wordsIt is a bottomless pit, PositioningReasoning · 11 wordsand it is completely illogical to try to produce clean oil, Claims · 32 wordsbut notwithstanding that, we know that Export Development Canada, or EDC, put $102 million into the carbon capture and storage sector in 2023.¹² In 2022, $464 million was poured into this sector, ¹³Positioning · 9 wordswhich in no way serves the interests of Quebeckers.Positioning Procedure · 6 wordsI will come back to EDC.Procedure Positioning · 20 wordsWhen we look at the overall support for the gas and oil sector, we see that it is completely outrageous.Positioning Claims · 17 wordsThe federal government is trying to respond to a tariff crisis by supporting the Canadian energy sector. Procedure · 7 wordsThe question that troubles me is this: ProcedurePositioning · 7 wordsWho benefits from the Canadian energy sector?Positioning Procedure · 13 wordsPeople looking for an answer to that question will find something quite shocking.Procedure Claims · 55 wordsWhen looking at the ownership structure of the major oil companies, it becomes clear that 80% of these major oil companies are owned by foreign interests.¹⁴ I repeat, 80% of the ownership structure of the major players in the oil sector belongs to foreign interests. Furthermore, 60% of the ownership structure belongs to American interests.¹⁵ Procedure · 4 wordsWhat does this mean?Procedure Reasoning · 21 wordsIt means that the energy lobby, which aims to boost the Canadian economy, is working to the benefit of American interests. Procedure · 5 wordsHere is a hair-raising fact.Procedure Claims · 11 wordsFrom 2021 to 2024, these people made $131 billion in profits.¹⁶ Positioning · 6 wordsDid they invest in their infrastructure?Positioning Claims · 20 wordsNo. They asked the federal government to take on the risk for the infrastructure while they raked in the profits. Positioning · 8 wordsI have never seen a model like that.Positioning Reasoning · 16 wordsCapitalism is based on people assuming risks with their own money and then reaping the profits. Claims · 8 wordsThat is not what the oil companies want. Reasoning · 18 wordsFor the oil companies, it means having the government assume the risk so they can reap the profits. Claims · 39 wordsThey produce 12.3 billion dollars’ worth of capital flight.¹⁷ The federal government left Quebec out of its economic update. Instead, it is trying to help the big oil and gas companies that send their money to the United States. Positioning · 4 wordsThat is completely outrageous.Positioning

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 69

34 of 35 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 comes as a surprise to no one.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I think that his answer was very well put and it showed all the shortcomings of the economic update.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “However, I would like to finish the sentence,”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 “because I think that, in reality, they are building Canada while ignoring Quebec.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is what the document should have been called,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “and I will explain why.”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 have a little tip for my colleagues.”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 “When we want to understand the intent of a government document or proposal, like a budget or an update, there is usually a fairly simple trick.”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 “All anyone has to do is search how many times certain words appear in the document.”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 “My colleagues will see where I am going with this.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “which is a bit better.”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 “Why am I talking about this?”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 “We immediately see where the government’s priorities lie.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Which two industries in Canada are facing the highest tariffs?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Is this addressed in the economic update?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “This makes me think that the goal is to build Canada while ignoring Quebec.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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 return to the many repeated proposals we have made.”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 can talk about that right now.”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 “If the economic update is about building Canada while ignoring Quebec, what does this economic update actually contain?”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “Sometimes I like to be a bit mischievous.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is a different story when it comes to the oil and gas sector.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “What does the economic update contain?”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 “It is a bottomless pit,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “which in no way serves the interests of Quebeckers.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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 come back to EDC.”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 “When we look at the overall support for the gas and oil sector, we see that it is completely outrageous.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “The question that troubles me is this:”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 “Who benefits from the Canadian energy sector?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “People looking for an answer to that question will find something quite shocking.”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 “What does this mean?”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 “Here is a hair-raising fact.”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 “Did they invest in their infrastructure?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I have never seen a model like that.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is completely outrageous.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 35 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 bill under debate.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 35 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

1 of 35 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 “that comes as a surprise to no one”The phrase asserts universal awareness in place of any source for the claim.

Claims · 17

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“Those words appear six times”The words “forest” and “forestry” appear six times in the Spring Economic Update 2026 document.search
2“We see that word 12 times”The word “aluminum” appears 12 times in the Spring Economic Update 2026 document.search
3“and the answer is five times”The term “climate change” appears five times in the Spring Economic Update 2026 document.search
4“I hit the jackpot at 43 times”The word “gas” appears 43 times in the Spring Economic Update 2026 document.search
5“which is used 153 times in the economic update”The word “oil” appears 153 times in the Spring Economic Update 2026 document.search
6“The 50% tariffs are catastrophic for them”Aluminum processors in Canada face tariffs of 50%.search
7“It is subject to 45% tariffs”Canadian forestry sector products face tariffs of 45% on exports to the United States.search
8“the sum of a 10% tariff, countervailing duties”The 45% tariff burden on Canadian forestry exports consists of a 10% tariff plus countervailing duties and anti-dumping duties.search
9“25% of the total value of aluminum products will now be subject to tariffs”Under a new decree, 25% of the total value of aluminum products will now be subject to tariffs.search
10“The federal government did not offer Hydro-Québec a single penny in financial support”Hydro-Québec received no federal financial support to build its two electricity export lines, one to New York and one to Massachusetts.search
11“It includes an increase in the carbon capture and storage tax credit”The Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act includes an increase in the carbon capture and storage tax credit.search
12“put $102 million into the carbon capture and storage sector in 2023”Export Development Canada put $102 million into the carbon capture and storage sector in 2023.search
13“$464 million was poured into this sector”Export Development Canada put $464 million into the carbon capture and storage sector in 2022.search
14“80% of these major oil companies are owned by foreign interests”80% of the ownership of the major Canadian oil companies belongs to foreign interests.search
15“60% of the ownership structure belongs to American interests”60% of the ownership of the major Canadian oil companies belongs to American interests.search
16“From 2021 to 2024, these people made $131 billion in profits”Major oil companies made $131 billion in profits from 2021 to 2024.search
17“They produce 12.3 billion dollars’ worth of capital flight”The oil companies account for $12.3 billion in capital flight.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20