Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Blaine Calkins

Conservative on Strong and Free Elections Act 2026-06-11

180 words · 10 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Bob Zimmer (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I know third party advertising and the involvement of foreign governments in our elections is a big problem. It reared its head back in 2015. I am sure the member remembers back in the day. This is a headline from 2017: “Controversial Leadnow active in B.C. politics, Vancouver city affairs”. We originally sort of brought the evidence forward that this was occurring. The article refers to “claims filed last week with Elections Canada—and reported this week by the Calgary Herald—that foreign money ‘spawned’ Leadnow and helped fund an elaborate campaign to oust the ruling Conservative Party.” I would ask the member to speak to this issue. It is a big deal, and we even see our colleague across the way from Toronto affected by shenanigans in elections. Maybe the member can just speak to what happened back in 2015.”

Statement grade

64 / 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 96%Positioning 4%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 141 wordsI think my friend from Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies and I would have very similar constituents.¹ They are hard-working, honest, patriotic, law-abiding Canadians who love going hunting and fishing. They work in forestry, mining, oil and gas and agriculture.²Off point These are folks who are very concerned about foreign money coming from foundations. Folks at home who want to go and look this up can take a look at some of these foundations, like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation or the Tides foundation.³ These organizations do not just have a few thousand or a few hundred thousand dollars, or even a few million dollars. They actually have assets worth billions of dollars, ⁴and they are able to create organizations, like Leadnow, in another country and then fund them, with this massive foundation that they have, to influence policies in another country.⁵ Positioning · 4 wordsThis is very problematic.Positioning Claims · 31 wordsA good friend of mine, Vivian Krause, has actually exposed much of how this money gets brought into Canada to fund various organizations and groups to block resource development in Canada.⁶ Positioning · 4 wordsIt is very frustrating.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 · 93

2 of 14 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 “This is very problematic.”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 “It is very frustrating.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 34

12 of 14 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 bill under debate.

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 my friend from Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies and I would have very similar constituents.”About similarities with the questioner’s constituents, not the foreign money issue raised.
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 are hard-working, honest, patriotic, law-abiding Canadians who love going hunting and fishing.”Describes constituents’ character and pastimes, not the question about foreign election funding.
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 work in forestry, mining, oil and gas and agriculture.”Lists constituents’ industries, not the 2015 Leadnow allegations 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 “These are folks who are very concerned about foreign money coming from foundations.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “Folks at home who want to go and look this up can take a look at some of these foundations, like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation or the Tides foundation.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 organizations do not just have a few thousand or a few hundred thousand dollars,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “or even a few million dollars.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “They actually have assets worth billions of dollars,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 are able to create organizations, like Leadnow, in another country and then fund them, with this massive foundation that they have, to influence policies in another country.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 is very problematic.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “A good friend of mine, Vivian Krause, has actually exposed much of how this money gets brought into Canada to fund various organizations and groups to block resource development in Canada.”Shifts to foreign funding used to block resource development, which only touches the elections 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 “It is very frustrating.”Expresses frustration at the resource-development funding point rather than the election question itself.

Respect · 100

0 of 14 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 14 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 · 6

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“my friend from Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies”Blaine Calkins has a friend from the Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies riding.search
2“They work in forestry, mining, oil and gas and agriculture”The constituents from the Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies riding work in forestry, mining, oil and gas and agriculture.search
3“Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation or the Tides foundation”The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Tides foundation are foundations mentioned by Blaine Calkins.search
4“They actually have assets worth billions of dollars”The foundations mentioned have assets worth billions of dollars.search
5“create organizations, like Leadnow, in another country and then fund them, with this massive foundation that they have, to influence policies in another country”The mentioned foundations create and fund organizations, such as Leadnow, in other countries to influence policies there.search
6“Vivian Krause, has actually exposed much of how this money gets brought into Canada to fund various organizations and groups to block resource development in Canada”Vivian Krause has exposed how money is brought into Canada to fund various organizations and groups to block resource development.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20