Thanks 7% Aside 7% Anecdote 54% Claims 20% Reasoning 12% Procedure 2%
Structure · 20 steps
Claims · 9
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 25 words before I begin, I just want to say that the speech by my colleague, the member for Calgary Heritage, was so wonderful and well informed. Thanks Aside · 17 words My words tonight will not meet that threshold. What I am here to talk about is shawarma. Aside Anecdote · 111 words My first introduction to Arab culture was at Mr. Falafel. It is on 10th Avenue near my old university, the University of British Columbia.1 I was a poor student, and I probably had enough money to eat out once a week. When I went there and got that big, juicy shawarma sandwich, it was a highlight of my week. I still love eating it. In fact I went back just a few weeks ago to visit some entrepreneurs at UBC, and I stopped by Mr. Falafel. They have been in business for 26 years now.2 I love that restaurant. It speaks to what many Arabs do when they come to Canada: Anecdote Claims · 18 words They start small businesses. They, disproportionately, start small businesses, and they make a positive impact in Canada’s economy. Anecdote · 349 words Another shawarma place I have been frequenting since my university days is Shawarma King. It is right up the road on Bank Street. In fact, my buddy Mo has been serving me shawarma there since about 2008, when I moved to Ottawa to do my master’s degree at Carleton University.3 I eat there probably once a week, even to this day. It is nice going to Shawarma King, a long-established shawarma joint in Ottawa, after a long day on Parliament Hill, to talk to my buddy Mo. The food is just incredible: the eggplant, the cauliflower, the mixed beef and chicken, the tahini sauce on top and the tabbouleh salad. I love this food. I think it is the greatest food in the world. Another place is Falafel King on Denman Street in Vancouver. It serves the best carrot soup I have had in my entire life. Whenever I go to English Bay, I have to stop by Falafel King and get the carrot soup. They also put a lot of tahini on their chicken, and I can never go wrong with that dish. It is honestly one of the best meals, and it brings me joy every time I get to eat it. There is another place, a new one, and it is a good one. I went to Ajax on a small business tour a few months ago, 4 and I went to Aleppo Kebab. The owner is a Syrian refugee.5 He used to have a shawarma joint in Syria that served all the tourists who would go to the Roman ruins.6 Unfortunately, due to all the conflict in that country, he had to come to Canada, but like many people who come from Syria and other Arab countries, he did not sit around getting welfare; he started a business. The shawarma barbecue I got at Aleppo Kebab in Ajax is the best Middle Eastern barbecue I have had in my entire life. It makes sense, as the owner’s family has been doing this for generations, and he is a really good businessman. I love Middle Eastern food. Anecdote Reasoning · 33 words I am giving these examples because they are real and people can relate to them, but they also speak to the broader impact that shawarma restaurants have had for small business in Canada. Anecdote · 81 words Another great example of Middle Eastern food has come from some families I have helped in my job. An Iraqi family has given me Iraqi dolma. It is wrapped in a leaf, and it is just mouth-wateringly delicious. They put some rice and lamb in a compressed pot with tomatoes and all sorts of spices. I cannot find better food than what there is in the Middle East. It just blows my mind, and it warms my heart every single time. Anecdote Claims · 25 words The bill we are discussing today is about recognizing Arab contributions to Canadian society. Arab Canadians have had an outweighted impact in terms of food. Aside · 36 words Shawarma is the greatest food in the world, and I think it is the best form of fast food in the world. Every chance I get to eat it, I am going to continue doing so. Aside Thanks · 32 words I thank all the shawarma restaurants across Canada for keeping me fit and in better shape, not going for a burger or something less helpful, because their food is just so amazing. Thanks Claims · 65 words When I speak to many of the new immigrants from countries in the Middle East, they do not want to stop at shawarma restaurants. Their frustration with Canada relates to skills recognition. The reason some of these entrepreneurs are so good with their restaurants is that, in their home countries, they were running engineering firms.7 They were doctors at regional hospitals. They were orthopaedic surgeons. Reasoning · 23 words Canada must and can do a better job of admitting people and allowing for their previous work experience to be recognized in Canada. Claims · 79 words The common story that has been shared in the House of Commons thousands of times is that of a cab driver or shawarma restaurant owner who had this great career abroad. They came to Canada on the points system, not necessarily as a refugee, but as soon as they got here, they found it almost impossible to practise the profession that got them here in the very first place. The Liberal government has made commitments to improve skills recognition.8 Reasoning · 23 words I hope to see those promises fulfilled. I think that is a good thing for Canada and a good thing for our economy. Claims · 10 words Provincial governments across the board have done so as well.9 Off point Procedure · 16 words If we take anything from the legislation before us here today, it is that very point: Procedure Reasoning · 42 words We will not see the full potential of Arab citizens in Canada if we do not modernize our immigration system and our skills recognition to allow people to flourish in the way we want every new Canadian to flourish in our country. Off point Thanks · 9 words I am thankful for the time to speak today. Thanks Aside · 13 words It was wonderful to talk about amazing shawarma in the House of Commons. Aside
At a glance
Lost points for Anecdote ×49 Off point ×14 Aside ×6 Thanks ×4 Procedure Little substance Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 29
60 of 74 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 Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “before I begin, I just want to say that the speech by my colleague, the member for Calgary Heritage, was so wonderful and well informed.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “My words tonight will not meet that threshold.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “What I am here to talk about is shawarma.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “My first introduction to Arab culture was at Mr. Falafel.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is on 10th Avenue near my old university, the University of British Columbia.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I was a poor student,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and I probably had enough money to eat out once a week.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “When I went there and got that big, juicy shawarma sandwich, it was a highlight of my week.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I still love eating it.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “In fact I went back just a few weeks ago to visit some entrepreneurs at UBC,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and I stopped by Mr. Falafel.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “They have been in business for 26 years now.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I love that restaurant.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It speaks to what many Arabs do when they come to Canada:” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Another shawarma place I have been frequenting since my university days is Shawarma King.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is right up the road on Bank Street.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “In fact, my buddy Mo has been serving me shawarma there since about 2008, when I moved to Ottawa to do my master’s degree at Carleton University.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I eat there probably once a week, even to this day.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is nice going to Shawarma King, a long-established shawarma joint in Ottawa, after a long day on Parliament Hill, to talk to my buddy Mo.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “The food is just incredible:” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “the eggplant, the cauliflower, the mixed beef and chicken, the tahini sauce on top and the tabbouleh salad.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I love this food.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I think it is the greatest food in the world.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Another place is Falafel King on Denman Street in Vancouver.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It serves the best carrot soup I have had in my entire life.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Whenever I go to English Bay, I have to stop by Falafel King and get the carrot soup.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “They also put a lot of tahini on their chicken,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and I can never go wrong with that dish.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is honestly one of the best meals,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and it brings me joy every time I get to eat it.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “There is another place, a new one,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and it is a good one.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I went to Ajax on a small business tour a few months ago,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and I went to Aleppo Kebab.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “The owner is a Syrian refugee.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “He used to have a shawarma joint in Syria that served all the tourists who would go to the Roman ruins.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Unfortunately, due to all the conflict in that country, he had to come to Canada,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “but like many people who come from Syria and other Arab countries, he did not sit around getting welfare;” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “he started a business.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “The shawarma barbecue I got at Aleppo Kebab in Ajax is the best Middle Eastern barbecue I have had in my entire life.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It makes sense,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “as the owner’s family has been doing this for generations,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and he is a really good businessman.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I love Middle Eastern food.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “Another great example of Middle Eastern food has come from some families I have helped in my job.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “An Iraqi family has given me Iraqi dolma.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is wrapped in a leaf,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and it is just mouth-wateringly delicious.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “They put some rice and lamb in a compressed pot with tomatoes and all sorts of spices.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I cannot find better food than what there is in the Middle East.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It just blows my mind,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and it warms my heart every single time.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “Shawarma is the greatest food in the world,” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “and I think it is the best form of fast food in the world.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “Every chance I get to eat it, I am going to continue doing so.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “I thank all the shawarma restaurants across Canada for keeping me fit and in better shape, not going for a burger or something less helpful,” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “because their food is just so amazing.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “If we take anything from the legislation before us here today, it is that very point:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “I am thankful for the time to speak today.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Aside A remark off to the side of the point. What the tags mean → “It was wonderful to talk about amazing shawarma in the House of Commons.” An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 23
14 of 74 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.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “When I speak to many of the new immigrants from countries in the Middle East, they do not want to stop at shawarma restaurants.” About immigrants’ frustration with skills recognition, a policy issue the heritage month bill does not touch.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Their frustration with Canada relates to skills recognition.” About skills recognition for new immigrants, not the designation of Arab Heritage Month.
Off point 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 reason some of these entrepreneurs are so good with their restaurants is that, in their home countries, they were running engineering firms.” About the professional backgrounds of restaurant owners, tied to skills recognition rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They were doctors at regional hospitals.” About past professional work abroad, part of the skills recognition discussion outside the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They were orthopaedic surgeons.” About past professional work abroad, part of the skills recognition discussion outside the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Canada must and can do a better job of admitting people and allowing for their previous work experience to be recognized in Canada.” A call for changes to admissions and credentials recognition, which the bill does not address.
Off point 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 common story that has been shared in the House of Commons thousands of times is that of a cab driver or shawarma restaurant owner who had this great career abroad.” About the common story of unrecognized credentials, not the bill before the House.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They came to Canada on the points system, not necessarily as a refugee,” About the points system and immigration pathways, outside the bill’s subject.
Off point 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 as soon as they got here, they found it almost impossible to practise the profession that got them here in the very first place.” About immigrants being unable to practise their professions, not the heritage month designation.
Off point 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 Liberal government has made commitments to improve skills recognition.” About the government’s commitments on skills recognition, a subject the bill does not touch.
Off point 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 to see those promises fulfilled.” About the fulfilment of skills recognition promises, not the bill.
Off point 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 that is a good thing for Canada and a good thing for our economy.” About the benefits of skills recognition reform, not the designation of a heritage month.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Provincial governments across the board have done so as well.” About provincial action on skills recognition, outside the bill’s subject.
Off point 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 will not see the full potential of Arab citizens in Canada if we do not modernize our immigration system and our skills recognition to allow people to flourish in the way we want every new Canadian to flourish in our country.” About modernizing immigration and skills recognition, presented as the bill’s point but outside what it enacts.
Respect · 100
0 of 74 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 74 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 · 9
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 University of British Columbia” Brad Vis attended the University of British Columbia as a student. search 2 “They have been in business for 26 years now” The restaurant Mr. Falafel in Vancouver has been in business for 26 years. search 3 “when I moved to Ottawa to do my master’s degree at Carleton University” Brad Vis moved to Ottawa around 2008 to do a master’s degree at Carleton University. search 4 “I went to Ajax on a small business tour a few months ago” Brad Vis visited Ajax on a small business tour a few months before June 2026. search 5 “The owner is a Syrian refugee” The owner of Aleppo Kebab in Ajax is a Syrian refugee. search 6 “He used to have a shawarma joint in Syria” The owner of Aleppo Kebab in Ajax previously ran a shawarma restaurant in Syria. search 7 “in their home countries, they were running engineering firms” Some Middle Eastern immigrant entrepreneurs Brad Vis has spoken with ran engineering firms in their home countries. search 8 “The Liberal government has made commitments to improve skills recognition” The Liberal government of Canada has made commitments to improve skills recognition for foreign-trained professionals. search 9 “Provincial governments across the board have done so as well” Provincial governments across Canada have also made commitments to improve skills recognition. search
