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Parm Bains

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-07

147 words · 9 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to Tako Van Popta (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, all morning, we on this side of the House have been raising some of the issues, some of the complexities, that have arisen from the Cowichan decision of the B.C. Supreme Court. It has been suggested by the Liberal side of the House that we are fearmongering or being misleading. I am very happy that the member opposite raised the issue of the Montrose application. He will be aware that Montrose had a land development project that has now run into complications on account of the Cowichan decision. This is not fearmongering. These are just facts. I wonder if he could comment about that.”

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.

Positioning 24%Procedure 5%Claims 60%Reasoning 11%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 35 wordsI think that if we listened to colleagues who spoke earlier, the fearmongering we are talking about has to do with what the members opposite are implying: that private property lands will be taken away.Positioning Procedure · 8 wordsI come back to the issue at hand.Procedure Claims · 19 wordsThis is a provincial matter. I have outlined how the federal government cannot and will not negotiate private lands. Reasoning · 16 wordsMost of these questions should be directed to the province and the Premier of British Columbia. Claims · 69 wordsA corresponding decision on a similar case happened in New Brunswick.¹ That court of appeal issued a decision in the context of an aboriginal title claim on the issue of whether aboriginal title can coexist with fee simple title.³ The court found that it could make a finding of aboriginal title leading to compensation for an indigenous nation, ²but it went the other way.Partly on point This is a provincial matter.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 64

3 of 7 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 “I think that if we listened to colleagues who spoke earlier, the fearmongering we are talking about has to do with what the members opposite are implying:”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 private property lands will be taken away.”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 come back to the issue at hand.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 71

4 of 7 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 “A corresponding decision on a similar case happened in New Brunswick.”About a New Brunswick case, not the Montrose complications asked about.
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 court of appeal issued a decision in the context of an aboriginal title claim on the issue of whether aboriginal title can coexist with fee simple title.”Describes the New Brunswick decision, not the Montrose situation raised.
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 “The court found that it could make a finding of aboriginal title leading to compensation for an indigenous nation,”Recounts another court’s finding, not the Montrose complications asked about.
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 “but it went the other way.”Concludes on the New Brunswick case, not on the question’s subject.

Respect · 100

0 of 7 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 7 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“A corresponding decision on a similar case happened in New Brunswick”A New Brunswick court issued a decision on a case similar to the Cowichan aboriginal title litigation.search
2“it could make a finding of aboriginal title leading to compensation for an indigenous nation”In the New Brunswick aboriginal title case, the court found it could make a finding of aboriginal title leading to compensation for an indigenous nation.search
3“issued a decision in the context of an aboriginal title claim on the issue of whether aboriginal title can coexist with fee simple title”A New Brunswick court of appeal issued a decision on whether aboriginal title can coexist with fee simple title in an aboriginal title claim.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20