Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Mario Simard

Bloc Québécois on An Act to repeal certain restrictions on shipping 2026-05-26

1316 words · 83 sentences · 95 clauses

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.

Claims 58%Positioning 14%Procedure 3%Anecdote 20%Thanks 2%Reasoning 3%The ask 1%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 24 wordsit goes without saying that the Bloc Québécois will be voting against Bill C-264, ¹which simply seeks to repeal the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.² Positioning · 39 wordsWhen I look at this, I see an irrational bill that can perhaps only be explained by an ideological mindset we are seeing more and more of, one that amounts to saying that anything goes for the oil industry.Positioning Procedure · 16 wordsI will explain what I mean when I say that “anything goes for the oil industry.”Procedure Anecdote · 40 wordsThe idea occurred to me earlier when I asked my colleague a question and he replied—and I am going to take the liberty of speaking in English, which I never do here—“I believe in pipelines.” That is quite the statement.Anecdote Claims · 52 wordsI am a fan of Dostoevsky. This makes me think of a novel by Dostoevsky called Demons, which came out at the end of the 19th century, ³where Dostoevsky, in the face of ideological excesses, poses a rather simple question: Partly on pointIs everything permitted? Is everything permitted in the name of an ideology? Positioning · 45 wordsWhat strikes me today about this downward spiral we are currently experiencing whenever there is a crisis—be it in response to the tariff crisis, or even when we were going through the COVID-19 pandemic, or a crisis of national unity—is the fact that anything goes.PositioningPartly on point Claims · 34 wordsThe only solution the Liberal and Conservative parties can come up with to address these issues is to support the gas and oil sector and call for more state intervention to develop oil infrastructure. Positioning · 17 wordsThe truth is that we are living in a completely absurd situation for this to be happening.PositioningUnearned certainty Claims · 125 wordsWe are in a tariff war with the Americans.⁴ What are the two economic sectors most affected by this tariff crisis? They are in Quebec. These are the aluminum industry, facing 50% tariffs, ⁵and the softwood lumber sector, facing around 45% in combined countervailing duties, anti-dumping duties and tariffs.⁶ These are the two sectors most affected by the current tariff dispute with the United States.Partly on point What has been the government’s response to this threat? It has been to say that we need to invest in our energy sector and increase energy exports. That is what the government has chosen. It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta, ⁷and now we are faced with a bill like the one my colleague just introduced. Positioning · 68 wordsThere seems to be a sort of one-upmanship going on between the Liberals and the Conservatives. Who is willing to go the furthest to support the oil and gas sector? That is what is going on. I do not think we would have seen a bill like this a few months ago if the government had not fallen into the trap of the memorandum of understanding with Alberta.Positioning Anecdote · 153 wordsI have seen this kind of one-upmanship many times over the past several years. When I arrived here in 2019, what surprised me was hearing my Conservative colleagues shouting day in and day out, “build a pipeline”.⁸ Even though hydroelectricity is important to us, I doubt I would ever see a Quebecker in the National Assembly shouting for the construction of power lines. This is not a lifestyle. It is not a political project.Partly on point Another thing that struck me was seeing my Conservative colleagues wearing buttons that read “I love oil & gas”. When I was a boy of 16 or 17, I had a button from my favourite rock band. That rock band represented my identity. It was important to me. Later on, and this still happens in the Bloc Québécois, we wear symbols that are specific to Quebec. We stick Quebec flags on our computers. That is because of our identity.Anecdote Claims · 30 wordsIf we were to define what is Quebec’s identity, we would speak about culture and language.Partly on point For some Conservatives, one part of their identity is the oil and gas sector. Positioning · 14 wordsThat is rather surprising in the current context. In fact, it runs quite deep.Positioning Claims · 22 wordsI remember one of my Conservative colleagues moving a motion stating that oil is irreplaceable. We debated that for an entire day. Anecdote · 67 wordsIf I were asked to think about something that is irreplaceable for me, I would first and foremost think about my wife and son. Perhaps after that, I would mention water, air and the essentials of life. I would certainly not think about oil.Partly on point I asked whether this is a situation where anything goes. What we are seeing today is akin to saying that oil is irreplaceable.Anecdote Claims · 28 wordsThis would repeal legislation that was put in place to protect the environment in order to promote the oil sector’s agenda for the sake of a hypothetical pipeline. Procedure · 10 wordsThat is the question that I asked my colleague earlier.Procedure Claims · 330 wordsHe spoke about the CEO of Enbridge, who described the difficulties involved in building oil and gas infrastructure. However, the Enbridge CEO also said that he personally was not prepared to take on the economic risks of building infrastructure. That is where a reasonable Conservative would draw the line. I enjoyed hearing the leader of the official opposition straight-out say that corporate welfare exists and that companies want their infrastructure paid for. Those are not my words. Those are the words of the leader of the official opposition. It is up to those companies to pay. However, oil and gas sector officials are saying that, in fact, it should fall on the government to assume the economic risk associated with this infrastructure. It is outrageous. When we look at the numbers from 2021 to 2024, the oil and gas sector raked in $131 billion in profits.⁹ Not so long ago, at the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, we heard from representatives of the major unions that support the energy sector because they have workers in that sector They told us that we are seeing a dramatic increase in production while there are fewer jobs. How is that possible? It is possible because the people at these big oil and gas companies are greedy and are willing to invest in the automation of their processes to cut jobs and production costs. However, they are not willing to invest in infrastructure. Today, we are being presented with a motion that asks us to scrap environmental regulations. Who stands to gain from this? It is certainly not the public. This is to make life easier for the oil and gas giants. In return, they come asking us to pay for their infrastructure. It is absolutely outrageous. I do not understand how we got here. Even though we are in a crisis, I do not understand how people who are supposed to be rational, whether they are Liberals or Conservatives, have reached this point. Procedure · 9 wordsI would like to conclude by saying the following.Procedure Thanks · 15 wordsAs members know, I have a great deal of respect for the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.¹⁰Thanks Claims · 16 wordsMany people have been critical of the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie. He may make an announcement tomorrow.Partly on point Thanks · 11 wordsI know that the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie is a well-intentioned person.Thanks Claims · 38 wordsI know he has decided to do something that is not often done in the environmental movement, namely, to set aside certain convictions in order to be pragmatic. He thought he would try to bring about concrete change. Reasoning · 36 wordsThere is something very simple in politics: A person either sticks to their convictions, or they choose to set their convictions aside for a moment to try to advance their ideas in a more responsible way. Claims · 61 wordsI get the impression that the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie has reached a point of no return and that today he is going to return to his old convictions.Partly on point He has realized that the government may have gone too far. In my opinion, the bill proposed by my colleague is a manifestation of the current excesses in the oil and gas sector. The ask · 16 wordsI sincerely hope that a large number of members of the House will vote against it.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 55

37 of 72 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 “When I look at this, I see an irrational bill that can perhaps only be explained by an ideological mindset we are seeing more and more of, one that amounts to saying that anything goes for the oil industry.”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 will explain what I mean when I say that “anything goes for the oil industry.””Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “The idea occurred to me earlier when I asked my colleague a question and he replied—and I am going to take the liberty of speaking in English,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “which I never do here—“I believe in pipelines.””An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “That is quite the statement.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “What strikes me today about this downward spiral we are currently experiencing whenever there is a crisis—be it in response to the tariff crisis,”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 “or even when we were going through the COVID-19 pandemic,”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 “or a crisis of national unity—is the fact that anything goes.”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 “The truth is that we are living in a completely absurd situation for this to be happening.”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 “There seems to be a sort of one-upmanship going on between the Liberals and the Conservatives.”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 “Who is willing to go the furthest to support the oil and gas sector?”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 is what is going on.”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 do not think we would have seen a bill like this a few months ago if the government had not fallen into the trap of the memorandum of understanding with Alberta.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I have seen this kind of one-upmanship many times over the past several years.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “When I arrived here in 2019, what surprised me was hearing my Conservative colleagues shouting day in and day out, “build a pipeline”.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Even though hydroelectricity is important to us, I doubt I would ever see a Quebecker in the National Assembly shouting for the construction of power lines.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “This is not a lifestyle.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It is not a political project.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Another thing that struck me was seeing my Conservative colleagues wearing buttons that read “I love oil & gas”.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “When I was a boy of 16 or 17, I had a button from my favourite rock band.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “That rock band represented my identity.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It was important to me.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Later on,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and this still happens in the Bloc Québécois, we wear symbols that are specific to Quebec.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We stick Quebec flags on our computers.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “That is because of our identity.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is rather surprising in the current context.”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 “In fact, it runs quite deep.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “If I were asked to think about something that is irreplaceable for me, I would first and foremost think about my wife and son.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Perhaps after that, I would mention water, air and the essentials of life.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I would certainly not think about oil.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I asked whether this is a situation where anything goes.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “What we are seeing today is akin to saying that oil is irreplaceable.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “That is the question that I asked my colleague earlier.”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 would like to conclude by saying the following.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “As members know, I have a great deal of respect for the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I know that the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie is a well-intentioned person.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 82

34 of 72 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 bill 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 “This makes me think of a novel by Dostoevsky called Demons,”A digression about a Dostoevsky novel, not the bill.
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 “which came out at the end of the 19th century,”Background on the novel’s date, not the bill.
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 “where Dostoevsky, in the face of ideological excesses, poses a rather simple question:”Dostoevsky’s question in the novel, not the bill’s provisions.
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 “What strikes me today about this downward spiral we are currently experiencing whenever there is a crisis—be it in response to the tariff crisis,”About the tariff crisis generally, touching the bill only through the anything-goes argument.
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 “or even when we were going through the COVID-19 pandemic,”About the pandemic, touching the bill only through the anything-goes argument.
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 “or a crisis of national unity—is the fact that anything goes.”About crises generally, touching the bill only through the anything-goes argument.
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 “We are in a tariff war with the Americans.”About the tariff war with the Americans, not the tanker moratorium.
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 “What are the two economic sectors most affected by this tariff crisis?”About which sectors the tariff crisis hits, not the bill.
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 “They are in Quebec.”About Quebec’s affected sectors, not the bill.
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 “These are the aluminum industry, facing 50% tariffs,”About aluminum tariffs, not the bill.
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 softwood lumber sector, facing around 45% in combined countervailing duties, anti-dumping duties and tariffs.”About softwood lumber duties, not the bill.
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 “These are the two sectors most affected by the current tariff dispute with the United States.”About the tariff dispute’s effects, not the bill.
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 “Even though hydroelectricity is important to us, I doubt I would ever see a Quebecker in the National Assembly shouting for the construction of power lines.”About hydroelectricity and Quebec’s National Assembly, not the bill.
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 “This is not a lifestyle.”A remark on lifestyle and identity, not the bill.
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 “It is not a political project.”A remark on political projects and identity, not the bill.
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 “When I was a boy of 16 or 17, I had a button from my favourite rock band.”A personal memory about a rock band button, not the bill.
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 rock band represented my identity.”About the rock band as identity, not the bill.
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 “It was important to me.”About the button’s personal importance, not the bill.
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 “Later on,”A transitional fragment about symbols, not the bill.
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 this still happens in the Bloc Québécois, we wear symbols that are specific to Quebec.”About Quebec symbols the Bloc wears, not the bill.
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 “We stick Quebec flags on our computers.”About Quebec flags on computers, not the bill.
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 is because of our identity.”About Quebec identity, not the bill.
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 “If we were to define what is Quebec’s identity, we would speak about culture and language.”About what defines Quebec identity, not the bill.
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 “If I were asked to think about something that is irreplaceable for me, I would first and foremost think about my wife and son.”A personal reflection about family and essentials, not the bill.
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 “Perhaps after that, I would mention water, air and the essentials of life.”A personal reflection about water, air and essentials, not the bill.
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 certainly not think about oil.”A personal remark about oil, not the bill’s provisions.
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 “Many people have been critical of the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.”Criticism of another member, not the bill.
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 “He may make an announcement tomorrow.”Speculation about another member’s announcement, not the bill.
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 know he has decided to do something that is not often done in the environmental movement, namely, to set aside certain convictions in order to be pragmatic.”About the member’s pragmatism versus convictions, not the bill.
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 “He thought he would try to bring about concrete change.”About the member’s hopes for change, not the bill.
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 “There is something very simple in politics:”A general point about convictions in politics, not the bill.
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 person either sticks to their convictions,”A general point about holding convictions, not the bill.
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 “or they choose to set their convictions aside for a moment to try to advance their ideas in a more responsible way.”A general point about setting convictions aside, not the bill.
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 get the impression that the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie has reached a point of no return and that today he is going to return to his old convictions.”About the member’s supposed return to convictions, not the bill.

Respect · 100

0 of 72 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 · 98

1 of 72 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “The truth is that”The phrase asserts the conclusion as truth in place of a source or argument.

Claims · 10

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 Bloc Québécois will be voting against Bill C-264”The Bloc Québécois announced it would vote against Bill C-264, which repeals the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.search
2“simply seeks to repeal the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act”Bill C-264 seeks to repeal the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.search
3“which came out at the end of the 19th century, ”Dostoevsky published the novel Demons in the late 19th century.search
4“We are in a tariff war with the Americans”Canada was in a tariff dispute with the United States as of May 2026.search
5“the aluminum industry, facing 50% tariffs”Quebec’s aluminum industry faces 50% US tariffs.search
6“softwood lumber sector, facing around 45% in combined countervailing duties, anti-dumping duties and tariffs”Canadian softwood lumber faces combined countervailing duties, anti-dumping duties and tariffs of around 45%.search
7“It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta”The federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta.search
8“When I arrived here in 2019”Mario Simard was first elected to the House of Commons in 2019.search
9“from 2021 to 2024, the oil and gas sector raked in $131 billion in profits”Canada’s oil and gas sector earned $131 billion in profits between 2021 and 2024.search
10“the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie”The House has a member for the riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20