Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Jacques Ramsay

Liberal on Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 2026-05-25

117 words · 12 sentences · 13 clauses

Replying to Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Bloc Québécois). The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the bill.

“Mr. Speaker, earlier I dared to speak my mind loud and clear, and I will say it again: One day the government will have to get its house in order and become experts on the “Buy Canadian” policy, among other things. I digress, but it will soon be clear why, as that is my question for my colleague. How is it that government investments have a direct impact when we have free trade agreements, and how is it that the government is saying to buy Canadian when the goods will be manufactured abroad, in Europe, for example? This is somehow allowed under these agreements. Can we have a clear framework? The deputy ministers will be appearing before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, and we expect them to be clear, straightforward and precise.”

Statement grade

30 / 100, held down by Relevance

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

Procedure 17%Claims 43%Promise 30%Positioning 10%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 20 wordsI am not sure that I properly understood the question. I understand that it had to do with buying local.Procedure Claims · 37 wordsI think the government has made its intentions clear on that subject. It took a tremendous amount of work to validate that. It was highly complex. The government buys a lot. There are a lot of contracts. Promise · 35 wordsHowever, our intention is very clear. We intend to deliver something that will stimulate our local industry and Canadian industry, not only in terms of materials, Vague promisebut also in terms of hours worked here, domestically. Claims · 13 wordsI also believe that provisions covering this should be included in the contracts. Positioning · 12 wordsThat is my position. I hope that my government will support it.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for
Off topicNone of this statement addressed the specific topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 67

4 of 16 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I am not sure that I properly understood the question.”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 understand that it had to do with buying local.”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 “That is my position.”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 hope that my government will support it.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

11 of 16 deductions are Relevance

The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the bill.

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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I think the government has made its intentions clear on that subject.”About the government’s Buy Canadian intentions, a subject the bill does not touch.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It took a tremendous amount of work to validate that.”About work validating Buy Canadian policy, not the bill’s measures.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It was highly complex.”About the complexity of that policy, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “The government buys a lot.”About the volume of government purchasing, not the bill’s provisions.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “There are a lot of contracts.”About the number of contracts, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “However, our intention is very clear.”About Buy Canadian intentions, a subject the bill does not address.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We intend to deliver something that will stimulate our local industry and Canadian industry, not only in terms of materials,”About a plan to stimulate local industry through procurement, not the bill’s measures.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but also in terms of hours worked here, domestically.”About domestic work hours under procurement policy, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I also believe that provisions covering this should be included in the contracts.”About desired contract provisions on local content, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That is my position.”A statement of the member’s own procurement position, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I hope that my government will support it.”A hope about future government support on procurement, not the bill under debate.

Respect · 100

0 of 16 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 · 75

1 of 16 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 “We intend to deliver something”The commitment names no measure, actor, date or success condition.

Claims · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-10-20