Analysis · Debate reply · beta

David McGuinty

Liberal on Military Justice System Modernization Act 2026-05-04

155 words · 10 sentences · 10 clauses

Replying to James Bezan (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence admitted at committee that he took an old bill, Bill C-66, and brought it back to the current Parliament as Bill C-11. He never talked to anybody in the veterans community. He did not reach out and talk to members in the justice system within CAF. He never talked to anyone at the provincial level about the problems they are having in carrying on these prosecutions. If he had listened to veterans, and read the testimony that appeared in committee, they would have told him that they do not have faith in the civilian system, especially for low-level sexual misconduct; that they are going to be dismissed; and that there is then no recourse within the military system for any sort of administrative or disciplinary measures against those offenders. If he had been listening, he would have heard from police stations and police organizations across the country, as well as lawyers, saying to give victims the choice, so that they could choose which system they believe they are most comfortable in, whether it was the military system or the civilian system. If he listened to his own members of the Canadian Armed Forces, like the director of military prosecutions, like the director of defence counsel services, like the provost marshal general of the Canadian Armed Forces, they would have told him that they are all now at a better place, five years since the Arbour report, to actually bring in the changes that are needed to do what is right.”

Statement grade

A–

Average 89 / 100

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

Claims 57%Positioning 12%Reasoning 10%Promise 6%Thanks 15%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 28 wordsthe member omits to tell the Canadian people watching the debate that as of the fall of 2021, all of these cases have been sent to civilian courts.³ Positioning · 6 wordsHe cannot have it both ways.Positioning Claims · 60 wordsThere has been important progress and tangible changes since 2021. This is precisely because the interim directive that put Justice Arbour’s recommendation five into place in a temporary manner, until such time as legislation could be passed through the House, continues.¹ Work on cultural evolution inside the CAF has continued.Vague promise We have now implemented 47 of Justice Arbour’s 48 recommendations.² Reasoning · 16 wordsTo block Arbour’s recommendation five would be to undo the progress of the past five years. Promise · 9 wordsWe do not have the intention of doing that. Positioning · 12 wordsI think the member knows this is the right way to proceed.Positioning Thanks · 24 wordsI put my trust in the work of Madam Justice Arbour, Mr. Justice Fish and, for that matter, the chief of the defence staff.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for
Echo ×3“We have implemented 47 of Justice Arbour's 48 recommendations.” Said 3 times by 2 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

3 of 4 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “He cannot have it both ways.”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 think the member knows this is the right way to proceed.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I put my trust in the work of Madam Justice Arbour, Mr. Justice Fish and, for that matter, the chief of the defence staff.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 4 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 motion under debate.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 4 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 · 90

1 of 4 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “Work on cultural evolution inside the CAF has continued”It asserts ongoing effort with no actor, measure or success condition named.

Echo · 1 repeated line

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“We have implemented 47 of Justice Arbour's 48 recommendations.”Said 3 times by 2 members.Every time it was said

Claims · 3

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“the interim directive that put Justice Arbour’s recommendation five into place in a temporary manner, until such time as legislation could be passed through the House, continues”Justice Arbour’s Recommendation Five is implemented via an interim directive on a temporary basis until legislation is passed through the House.search
2“We have now implemented 47 of Justice Arbour’s 48 recommendations”The government has implemented 47 of Justice Arbour’s 48 recommendations.search
3“as of the fall of 2021, all of these cases have been sent to civilian courts”As of the fall of 2021, all sexual offence cases were sent to civilian courts.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20