Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Don Davies

NDP on Main Estimates, 2026-27 2026-06-08

154 words · 5 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to Dan Albas (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for bringing this debate to the floor. It is a deplorable situation where people are exploited, particularly in their golden years, out of everything they have made and hope to pass on to their children. I appreciate the member doing that. One of the challenges is that bank officials do not necessarily understand, and when someone comes in who seems to have full use of their faculties, they are loath to either start asking questions or even stop a transaction. Provincial governments can make a big difference. Right now, if someone loses the ability to make good judgments for themselves, oftentimes a court order has to be received by family members who are concerned. Basically, it is like a light switch, saying that someone who had autonomy to make their own decisions is no longer able to do that. I know the member has Mr. David Eby’s number on speed dial. Is he prepared to talk to the province about changing the provincial laws so they are not like a light switch?”

Statement grade

B+

Average 83 / 100

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

Reasoning 17%Thanks 8%Claims 62%The ask 13%

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

Reasoning · 11 wordsYes, Mr. Speaker, this is going to take a multi-jurisdictional approach. Thanks · 13 wordsThe member is quite right that the provinces have a role to play, ThanksClaims · 95 wordsbut the federal government regulates banks and the banking sector.¹ One of my children has a disability, ²and every January or February I make a contribution to her RDSP.³ When I do that, because I have made only one contribution a year, I have to answer about 20 minutes of questions to assess my level of investor knowledge, and yet I just read out examples of a senior walking into a bank who just opened an account and is wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to Vietnam, and they get one question asked of them.Partly on point Reasoning · 15 wordsI think that banks can and should be doing much more to flag these problems, The ask · 20 wordsand perhaps we can at least help some of these seniors who are being defrauded out of their life savings.Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 88

1 of 8 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 “The member is quite right that the provinces have a role to play,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 63

6 of 8 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 “One of my children has a disability,”A personal note about the speaker’s child that sets up an anecdote rather than addressing the provincial-law question.
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 every January or February I make a contribution to her RDSP.”Part of a personal anecdote about RDSP contributions, not about the provincial laws 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 “When I do that,”Continues the personal RDSP anecdote without engaging the question.
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 “because I have made only one contribution a year, I have to answer about 20 minutes of questions to assess my level of investor knowledge,”Describes the speaker’s own bank questioning experience, not the provincial-law change proposed.
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 yet I just read out examples of a senior walking into a bank who just opened an account and is wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to Vietnam,”An anecdote about banks failing to question seniors, off the provincial-law point 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 “and they get one question asked of them.”Continues the bank anecdote rather than addressing the provincial laws.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 · 81

1 of 8 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 “perhaps we can at least help some of these seniors”The commitment names no measure, actor or success condition for how the help would occur.

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“the federal government regulates banks and the banking sector”In Canada, the federal government regulates banks and the banking sector.search
2“One of my children has a disability”Don Davies has a child with a disability.search
3“every January or February I make a contribution to her RDSP”Don Davies says he contributes to his disabled child’s RDSP every January or February.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20