Analysis · Debate question · beta

Steven Guilbeault

Liberal on Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 2026-05-27

240 words · 9 sentences · 13 clauses

Following a speech by Patrick Bonin (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, today I want to heartily commend the member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie, the former minister of environment and heritage, for his public service. I am even taking the unusual liberty of addressing him by name, Steven, this one last time. He and I have known each other for 25 years. Back then, he was with Greenpeace. He had long hair and a longer beard, but with fewer grey hairs. He enjoyed climbing towers and installing solar panels on premiers’ homes. Some people even called him “Jesus of Montreal”. We crossed paths for years within the Quebec, Canadian and international environmental movements, and at over 30 international climate conferences, or COPs, which he participated in and excelled at, including a number which he attended as environment minister. Without a doubt, one of his greatest achievements was the Kunming-Montreal agreement on biodiversity, a resounding success that would not have been possible without him. His accomplishments also and obviously include the climate change plan, which may not have been perfect or ambitious enough, but was by far the most ambitious in Canada’s history. We have certainly had our differences when it comes to the best way to serve the environmental cause. We did not always agree on the best strategy to take. We were sometimes critical of one another, but I never doubted his commitment to fighting climate change. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois and myself, I want to wish him all the best going forward. I know that he will continue to advocate for the environment and climate in other forums and other groups, and I would be pleased to be able to work with him again one day. It is unfortunate that he is leaving, but it is a consequence and an illustration of a fundamental divide in Canada. He was by far the most ambitious environment minister in the history of this country, the one who did the most. He is, without a doubt, the best environment minister this country has ever known. However, it was too much for Canada, and yet despite always being between a rock and a hard place, he truly did everything that he could. For that, I sincerely thank you, Steven. Now that he might have more free time on his hands this summer, I heard that, if he wants to have a bit of fun and if he wants to send a clear message to the government about climate change, he can always visit the CN tower. The question that I want to ask him today and the one that is on everyone’s mind is this: Will he take this opportunity to give us a sneak peek at what he plans to do next?”

Statement grade

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Not graded

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

Thanks 14%Reasoning 23%Claims 63%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 33 wordsI sincerely thank my colleague and friend from the Bloc Québécois, the member for Repentigny, for his kind words, on his own behalf and, as I understand it, on behalf of his party.Thanks Reasoning · 20 wordsThe political arena can sometimes be very difficult, but it is also a place where we can accomplish great things. Claims · 151 wordsWhen the United Nations approached us in spring 2022 to ask us to host COP15 in Montreal, a conference that normally takes a year, ¹if not two, to organize, we had only six months to do so.² On top of that, we had to work closely with China, which was presiding over the conference, a country with which our diplomatic relations at the time were rather limited.³ The prime minister at the time, Mr. Trudeau, supported in particular by our former foreign affairs minister and current minister responsible for economic development, did not hesitate to support me in embarking on this adventure with the entire Canadian community, including NGOs, indigenous peoples and many private-sector companies. In the span of two weeks, we succeeded in convincing 196 countries to protect 30% of the planet.⁴ Today, this is referred to as the “Paris agreement for nature”, the equivalent of the Paris climate agreement.⁵ Reasoning · 36 wordsPeople can achieve great things by getting into politics. I urge everyone watching who is wondering whether they should one day take the plunge to go for it, pursue their dreams and do everything they can.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 78

2 of 13 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 sincerely thank my colleague and friend from the Bloc Québécois, the member for Repentigny, for his kind words, on his own behalf and,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “as I understand it, on behalf of his party.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 42

11 of 13 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 speech it follows, and 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 “The political arena can sometimes be very difficult,”A general reflection on political life, not a reply about his future plans.
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 is also a place where we can accomplish great things.”A general reflection on political life, not a reply about his future plans.
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 the United Nations approached us in spring 2022 to ask us to host COP15 in Montreal, a conference that normally takes a year,”About organizing COP15 in the past, not about what he plans to do next.
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 not two, to organize, we had only six months to do so.”About the timeline for organizing COP15, not his future plans.
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 “On top of that, we had to work closely with China,”About working with China on COP15, not his future plans.
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 was presiding over the conference, a country with which our diplomatic relations at the time were rather limited.”About diplomatic relations at the time of COP15, not his future plans.
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 prime minister at the time, Mr. Trudeau, supported in particular by our former foreign affairs minister and current minister responsible for economic development, did not hesitate to support me in embarking on this adventure with the entire Canadian community, including NGOs, indigenous peoples and many private-sector companies.”About past support for hosting COP15, not his future plans.
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 “In the span of two weeks, we succeeded in convincing 196 countries to protect 30% of the planet.”About the outcome of COP15, not his future plans.
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 “Today, this is referred to as the “Paris agreement for nature”, the equivalent of the Paris climate agreement.”About the legacy of the biodiversity agreement, not his future plans.
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 “People can achieve great things by getting into politics.”A general reflection on politics, not a reply about his future plans.
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 urge everyone watching who is wondering whether they should one day take the plunge to go for it, pursue their dreams and do everything they can.”An encouragement to others to enter politics, not a reply about his own next steps.

Respect · 100

0 of 13 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 13 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 · 5

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 United Nations approached us in spring 2022 to ask us to host COP15 in Montreal”The United Nations approached Canada in spring 2022 asking it to host the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal.search
2“we had only six months to do so”Canada had six months to organize COP15 in Montreal after being asked by the UN in spring 2022.search
3“which was presiding over the conference, a country with which our diplomatic relations at the time were rather limited.”China held the presidency of the COP15 biodiversity conference.search
4“we succeeded in convincing 196 countries to protect 30% of the planet”The Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement was agreed by 196 countries and includes a target to protect 30% of the planet.search
5“referred to as the “Paris agreement for nature””The Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement has been referred to as the ‘Paris agreement for nature’.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20