Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Bloc Québécois on Business of Supply 2026-05-05

196 words · 12 sentences · 16 clauses

Replying to Karim Bardeesy (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I really enjoyed my colleague’s speech and that of my colleague from Joliette—Manawan . My colleague talked about Quebec businesses. As a member from Ontario and parliamentary secretary, I am more concerned with businesses in Ontario, but I know that the minister and my colleague, the parliamentary secretary and member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, are very involved with Quebec businesses. I also appreciate my colleague’s comments on specific businesses. My colleague from Joliette—Manawan and I heard about them at the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology. Now, I have a question for him. We know that the government has just made major investments in the port of Contrecoeur. Will these investments help the companies he is talking about?”

Statement grade

A–

Average 87 / 100

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

Claims 56%Positioning 21%The ask 15%Reasoning 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 16 wordsI do not see any connection between his question and the issue we are discussing today. Positioning · 31 wordsIt is a shame, because we are in a difficult situation where people are worried about their jobs, and the government is trying to distract us by bringing up other topics.Positioning The ask · 29 wordsI would urge my colleague to focus instead on the problem we have brought to the table today and to talk to his colleagues so we can resolve this.Partly on point Claims · 21 wordsLet us take the “buy Canadian” policy as an example. Before Christmas, the government promised to make buying Canadian a priority.¹ Positioning · 5 wordsWhat happened in the end?Positioning Claims · 52 wordsA few weeks later, the government could have bought Canadian steel to build future ferries in the Vancouver area, but instead decided to give that contract to the Chinese. That is $1 billion going to China.² We could also talk about the renewal of Via Rail’s fleet. A contract is coming up. Positioning · 6 wordsWill it be awarded to Alstom, PositioningClaims · 20 wordsor will it go to Siemens again, like last time, when the Americans were given $1 billion to build it?³ Reasoning · 16 wordsIt is important to choose to keep our people employed rather than constantly sending money abroad.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 70

5 of 8 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 “It is a shame,”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 “because we are in a difficult situation where people are worried about their jobs,”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 “and the government is trying to distract us by bringing up other topics.”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 “What happened in the end?”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 “Will it be awarded to Alstom,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 79

3 of 8 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.

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 “because we are in a difficult situation where people are worried about their jobs,”About workers’ worries under the tariff situation, not whether the Contrecoeur investments help the companies.
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 “and the government is trying to distract us by bringing up other topics.”An accusation that the government is raising other topics, not an answer about the investments.
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 “I would urge my colleague to focus instead on the problem we have brought to the table today and to talk to his colleagues so we can resolve this.”A call for the member to return to the motion’s subject, not an answer about the investments.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 8 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 · 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“Before Christmas, the government promised to make buying Canadian a priority”Before Christmas 2025, the federal government promised to make buying Canadian a priority.search
2“That is $1 billion going to China.”The federal government awarded a contract worth about $1 billion for future ferries in the Vancouver area to a Chinese builder rather than using Canadian steel.search
3“the Americans were given $1 billion to build it”In the last Via Rail fleet renewal, the contract went to Siemens and about $1 billion went to the Americans to build it.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20