Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal on Combatting Hate Act 2026-06-16

137 words · 8 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Greg Fergus (Liberal)

“Madam Speaker, the hon. parliamentary secretary made reference to one of the symbols noted in the amendment, which is the noose. As he knows, it is an issue of particular importance to Black Canadians. I wonder if he could discuss why it is important to list symbols such as the noose as hate symbols.”

Statement grade

63 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Thanks 12%Procedure 9%Anecdote 42%Reasoning 31%Claims 6%

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

Madam Speaker, Thanks · 17 wordsI thank my colleague for the question because it allows me to highlight what Senator Bernard indicated.Thanks Procedure · 12 wordsI made reference to it at the very beginning of my speech.Procedure Anecdote · 57 wordsIt is a fairly long quote, but the essence of it is an individual who was sitting around a dinner table, then went out for an evening walk, where there was all sorts of language used by someone driving a truck toward her, telling her to go back to Africa, ¹and on the truck was a noose.Anecdote Reasoning · 43 wordsIt would be exceptionally intimidating and life-threatening. Racism to that degree hurts in many different ways. To deny that reality, I think, does a great disservice. As parliamentarians, I think we need to recognize where Canadians are hurt by symbols, and take action. Claims · 8 wordsThat is exactly what Bill C-9 would do.²

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch 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 · 33

6 of 6 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 “I thank my colleague for the question because it allows me to highlight what Senator Bernard indicated.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I made reference to it at the very beginning of my speech.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It is a fairly long quote,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “but the essence of it is an individual who was sitting around a dinner table, then went out for an evening walk,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “where there was all sorts of language used by someone driving a truck toward her, telling her to go back to Africa,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and on the truck was a noose.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 6 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.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 6 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 6 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 · 2

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“telling her to go back to Africa”Senator Bernard recounted an incident in which a person driving a truck directed language at a Black woman telling her to go back to Africa, with a noose displayed on the truck.search
2“what Bill C-9 would do”Bill C-9 would take action against hate symbols by creating an offence of wilfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group through displaying certain symbols in a public place.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20