Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Anthony Housefather

Liberal on Public Safety 2026-05-29

115 words · 7 sentences · 8 clauses

Replying to Melissa Lantsman (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, we all know the laws exist. The member opposite knows full well that Bill C-9 and anything he mentioned would not have stopped a single thing that happened in the streets. We already know the Prime Minister will not act because he has not acted. In fact, he did not say a thing last week. More effigies will be hung, more firebombs will be thrown into synagogues and more Liberal MPs will pose for pictures with those who glorify terrorism. The question is not whether the government will finally call this a crisis. We know they will not. The question is how much more needs to happen in order for anybody to do anything.”

Statement grade

Average 76 / 100

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

Claims 54%Reasoning 15%Positioning 11%Promise 20%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 43 wordsin December 2024, the justice committee, of which I was a part, put out a report.¹ It recommended to governments across the country, the federal government, provincial governments, municipal governments, ²and police and universities what we thought they should do in this circumstance.³ Reasoning · 5 wordsWe need to show leadership.Partly on point Positioning · 13 wordsThe Prime Minister will show leadership and has shown leadership on this issue.PositioningVague promise Claims · 19 wordsIt is unacceptable that the Jewish community of Canada does not feel as safe as it used to feel. Reasoning · 12 wordsJewish schools should not have to have guards in front of them.Partly on point Promise · 23 wordsWe will work incessantly to make sure every level of government in the country works with us to solve the crisis of anti-Semitism.Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 84

1 of 9 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 “The Prime Minister will show leadership and has shown leadership on this issue.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 58

6 of 9 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 question asked.

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 December 2024, the justice committee, of which I was a part, put out a report.”About a past justice committee report, not the question of how much more must happen.
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 recommended to governments across the country, the federal government, provincial governments, municipal governments,”About the report’s recommendations to governments, not what has been asked.
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 police and universities what we thought they should do in this circumstance.”About the report’s recommendations to police and universities, not the question put.
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 need to show leadership.”A general call for leadership that does not say how much more must happen.
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 unacceptable that the Jewish community of Canada does not feel as safe as it used to feel.”About the community’s lack of safety, not the amount of further harm needed.
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 “Jewish schools should not have to have guards in front of them.”About guards at Jewish schools, an example not tied to what was asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 9 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 · 61

2 of 9 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 “will show leadership”Committing that the Prime Minister will show leadership names no action, measure or date.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We will work incessantly”A commitment to work to solve the crisis names no specific step, actor beyond ‘we’, or success condition.

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“in December 2024, the justice committee, of which I was a part, put out a report”The House of Commons justice committee issued a report in December 2024, and Anthony Housefather was a member of that committee.search
2“It recommended to governments across the country, the federal government, provincial governments, municipal governments”The December 2024 justice committee report made recommendations directed at the federal, provincial and municipal governments.search
3“and police and universities what we thought they should do”The December 2024 justice committee report made recommendations directed at police and universities.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20