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Jaime Battiste

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-07

167 words · 7 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Jamie Schmale (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I do enjoy working with the member opposite on the indigenous and northern affairs committee. The member used the comment that we have heard a lot. He was talking about disinformation. I do not think at any point in the debate today implied that the Cowichan band would be kicking people off their land. I do not think anyone on this side has said that in all the time we have been debating this, so I do not know where that member is actually getting it from. We have said it creates uncertainty within the marketplace, regarding private business and private home ownership, and that is exactly what it is creating, so much so that the Province of British Columbia actually had to come in to backstop home and business owners who are trying to obtain financing through the banks. There is uncertainty. That is true. That is not misinformation. The government also, in 2018, told its lawyers to stop arguing for fee simple property. That is a fact. There are also numerous other things the government has done that create this uncertainty, and that is what we are arguing here. The government expects to win in court on appeal with an argument it cannot make.”

Statement grade

Average 91 / 100

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

Thanks 2%Positioning 25%Claims 63%Reasoning 9%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 4 wordsI respect that member, ThanksPositioning · 42 wordsand I want to respectfully say that I have heard a lot of Conservatives get up and pretend they know something about aboriginal litigation. As someone who taught aboriginal and treaty rights law at university, I have heard some of these arguments.¹Positioning Claims · 106 wordsWhen a court case comes to the Supreme Court of Canada, many intervenors will come in with many different arguments.² For the members opposite to suggest that there was one opportunity to have an argument that might go to the Supreme Court of Canada is non-factual. It is not based in any kind of actual fact from anyone who has ever read an aboriginal title case or anyone who has actually looked at the court cases and said, here is what happens when indigenous nations have proved what their section 35 rights are. We sit down and negotiate with them. We protect the interests of Canadians, Reasoning · 15 wordsbut we also do it in a way that does not create fear, mistrust and—

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

3 of 3 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I respect that member,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and I want to respectfully say that I have heard a lot of Conservatives get up and pretend they know something about aboriginal litigation.”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 “As someone who taught aboriginal and treaty rights law at university, I have heard some of these arguments.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 3 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.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 3 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 3 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 · 2

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“taught aboriginal and treaty rights law at university”Jaime Battiste has taught aboriginal and treaty rights law at a university.search
2“many intervenors will come in with many different arguments”When a case comes to the Supreme Court of Canada, many intervenors can bring many different arguments.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20