Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal on Government Business No. 12—Proceedings on Bill C-30 2026-06-15

144 words · 12 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Gord Johns (NDP). The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the motion.

“Mr. Speaker, I asked a Liberal colleague earlier today about ferry funding. I was explaining that the federal government contributes 43% of operating costs for Atlantic ferries. In British Columbia, they contribute 3%. The government contributes $6 per capita to the average British Columbian for operating costs for ferries, but on the east coast, it is $125. The Liberals say it is because of constitutional agreements and because those ferries are travelling province to province. Does my colleague think that Vancouver Island and coastal B.C. need to become a province just to get funding when it comes to operational costs for ferries? Living in a coastal community, ferries are essential transportation. I stood in the House, and I heard a Liberal parliamentary secretary agree that it is essential transportation. This is about fairness. People on Vancouver Island pay the same amount in taxes as people in Atlantic Canada. We do not even have a senator on Vancouver Island. We have not had one in 55 years. They have 10 senators in New Brunswick. They have six in Nova Scotia. They have 10 between P.E.I. and Newfoundland. P.E.I. and Newfoundland do not even have the same population as Vancouver Island. Neither does New Brunswick. In Nova Scotia, it is the same. We are not asking to reopen the Constitution. We are just asking the government to do something that is fair.”

Statement grade

30 / 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 70%Procedure 3%The ask 8%Positioning 19%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 19 wordsmy question to the member was going to be regarding whether the member wants us to reopen the Constitution.Off point Procedure · 5 wordsI will forgo that question.Procedure Claims · 82 wordsAt the end of the day, Canada is a vast country. There are regional differences, economically and otherwise. We can call them different types of boundaries, provincial boundaries and so forth. I do not know all of the circumstances. For example, the Province of B.C. might be contributing to BC Ferries. I suspect that it probably is. They might be in a better position to be able to do so. I do not know the details about how both ferry systems function. The ask · 11 wordsThe member would have to maybe give a bit more detail. Positioning · 27 wordsI would like to believe that we work collaboratively with governments to make sure that there is a sense of fairness in Canada on policies in general.PositioningOff pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Off topicNone of this statement addressed the specific topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 71

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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I will forgo that question.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I would like to believe that we work collaboratively with governments to make sure that there is a sense of fairness in Canada on policies in general.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

11 of 14 deductions are Relevance

The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the motion.

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 motion 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 “my question to the member was going to be regarding whether the member wants us to reopen the Constitution.”About ferry funding and reopening the Constitution, not the motion or the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “At the end of the day, Canada is a vast country.”A general comment on Canada’s size, unrelated to the motion or the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “There are regional differences, economically and otherwise.”About regional economic differences, not the motion or the bill.
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 can call them different types of boundaries, provincial boundaries and so forth.”About provincial boundaries, not the motion or the bill.
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 do not know all of the circumstances.”A personal admission about not knowing circumstances, unrelated to the motion or the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “For example, the Province of B.C. might be contributing to BC Ferries.”About BC Ferries funding, not the motion or the bill.
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 suspect that it probably is.”Speculation about BC Ferries contributions, not the motion or the bill.
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 might be in a better position to be able to do so.”About B.C.’s capacity to fund ferries, not the motion or the bill.
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 do not know the details about how both ferry systems function.”About ferry systems’ details, not the motion or the bill.
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 member would have to maybe give a bit more detail.”A request for more detail from the member on ferries, not the motion or the bill.
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 would like to believe that we work collaboratively with governments to make sure that there is a sense of fairness in Canada on policies in general.”A general statement about collaborative fairness in policy, not the motion or the bill.

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 · 75

1 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we work collaboratively with governments to make sure that there is a sense of fairness”The commitment names no measure, date or success condition for how collaboration or fairness is achieved.

Claims · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-10-20