Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Jean-Denis Garon

Bloc Québécois on Business of Supply 2026-06-02

266 words · 17 sentences · 18 clauses

Replying to Kelly McCauley (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, my colleague from Mirabel’s passion is exceeded only by his knowledge on this subject. I understand the member’s point about measuring and calling a recession, but we have to set numbers somewhere. The fact is that Canada’s economy has contracted for three of the last four quarters. Not a single country in the G7 has had a contraction in the economy in the last four quarters. The government, we hear constantly, is blaming it on the trade war with the U.S. Mexico, which is more reliant by a fair amount on trade with the U.S. than Canada is, has actually seen its exports to the U.S. rise. Mexico, which is, again, more reliant on the U.S., has not fallen into a recession or a contraction in its economy, unlike Canada. I wonder if my colleague could expand a bit on his talk about how the government needs to stop blaming the U.S. for political gain and start working to improve the economy and exports, much like Mexico has.”

Statement grade

B–

70 / 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.

Claims 67%Reasoning 11%Positioning 22%

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

Madam Speaker, Claims · 23 wordswe sometimes get asked what the Bloc Québécois would do if we were in charge of the negotiations instead of the Prime Minister. Reasoning · 5 wordsPersonally, I cannot promise miracles. Claims · 53 wordsWe have always said that we would support the Prime Minister once he has a clear and intelligent strategy that he shares with us.Vague promise After more than a year, that still has not happened. I have the figures for the last five quarters. In the first quarter of 2025, there was 0.7% growth; ¹Positioning · 7 wordsthat does not get us very far.Positioning Claims · 40 wordsThere was a decline in the second quarter of last year, followed by a slight upturn in the third and a decline in the fourth.² That means we are arguing over whether we have 0% growth or a 0.1% decline. Positioning · 5 wordsThings are not looking good.Positioning Claims · 4 wordsThe problem is exports. Reasoning · 25 wordsWhen the companies that are showing a bit of resilience are no longer able to keep stockpiling inventory, there is going to be a problem. Claims · 57 wordsThese figures do not take into account the new tariff calculations announced in April.³ The effect of that announcement is going to be felt gradually. Quebec is being hit the hardest. This new calculation is not yet included in these statistics. It is essentially a new calculation for tariffs on steel, aluminum and a few other goods. Positioning · 47 wordsOn the other side of the House, those who think that everything is fine, those who think that we have come through this and that we are more resilient, they need to bring their rhetoric into line with reality, regardless of how today’s Conservative motion is worded.PositioningPartly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 67

3 of 22 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 “that does not get us very far.”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 “Things are not looking good.”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 “On the other side of the House, those who think that everything is fine, those who think that we have come through this and that we are more resilient, they need to bring their rhetoric into line with reality, regardless of how today’s Conservative motion is worded.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 40

18 of 22 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 “we sometimes get asked what the Bloc Québécois would do if we were in charge of the negotiations instead of the Prime Minister.”About what the Bloc would do in negotiations, not the point asked about improving the economy and exports.
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 “Personally, I cannot promise miracles.”A personal caveat about negotiations, not an expansion on improving the economy or exports.
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 have always said that we would support the Prime Minister once he has a clear and intelligent strategy that he shares with us.”About conditions for supporting the Prime Minister’s strategy, not the economy or exports 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 “After more than a year, that still has not happened.”About the absence of a shared strategy after a year, not the economic point 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 “I have the figures for the last five quarters.”Introduces GDP figures without addressing the point about improving the economy and exports.
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 first quarter of 2025, there was 0.7% growth;”A growth figure for one quarter, not the question about improving the economy and exports.
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 does not get us very far.”A comment on the growth figure’s size, not the point about improving the economy or exports.
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 was a decline in the second quarter of last year, followed by a slight upturn in the third and a decline in the fourth.”Quarterly GDP movements, not the question about improving the economy and exports.
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 means we are arguing over whether we have 0% growth or a 0.1% decline.”About the margin of growth figures, not the point raised about improving the economy and exports.
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 “Things are not looking good.”A general remark on the figures, not the point about improving the economy or exports.
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 problem is exports.”Identifies exports as the problem but does not address the point about improving exports.
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 companies that are showing a bit of resilience are no longer able to keep stockpiling inventory, there is going to be a problem.”A forecast about inventory stockpiling, not the point about improving the economy and exports.
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 figures do not take into account the new tariff calculations announced in April.”About tariff calculations not yet in the statistics, not the point about improving exports.
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 effect of that announcement is going to be felt gradually.”About the gradual effect of a tariff announcement, not the point about improving the economy or exports.
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 “Quebec is being hit the hardest.”About Quebec being hit hardest, not the point about improving the economy and exports.
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 new calculation is not yet included in these statistics.”Restates that the new tariff calculation is not in the statistics, not the point 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 “It is essentially a new calculation for tariffs on steel, aluminum and a few other goods.”Describes which goods the tariff calculation covers, not the point about improving the economy or exports.
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 the other side of the House, those who think that everything is fine, those who think that we have come through this and that we are more resilient, they need to bring their rhetoric into line with reality, regardless of how today’s Conservative motion is worded.”Urges the other side to align rhetoric with reality without addressing the point about improving the economy and exports.

Respect · 100

0 of 22 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 · 85

1 of 22 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 would support the Prime Minister once he has a clear and intelligent strategy”The commitment to support rests on an undefined condition with no measure of what would qualify.

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 the first quarter of 2025, there was 0.7% growth”Canada’s GDP grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025.search
2“a decline in the second quarter of last year, followed by a slight upturn in the third and a decline in the fourth”Canada’s GDP declined in the second quarter of 2025, rose slightly in the third quarter, and declined again in the fourth quarter of 2025.search
3“the new tariff calculations announced in April”New tariff calculations, essentially on steel, aluminum and a few other goods, were announced in April 2026 and are not yet reflected in the GDP statistics cited.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20