Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Gregor Robertson

Liberal on Government Business No. 11—Proceedings on Bill C-26 2026-06-16

194 words · 11 sentences · 13 clauses

Replying to Garnett Genuis (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, we have a Prime Minister who is really eroding the foundations of our parliamentary democracy. He is never here, yet he is imposing some of the most draconian measures on parliamentary debate. The motion before the House would impose on Bill C-26 that there would be one more speaker for each party at second reading, and then after the vote at second reading, it would be deemed adopted at all stages, with no committee study, no report stage debate and no third reading debate. An hon. member: Oh, oh! Garnett Genuis: Mr. Speaker, the member for Whitby is saying, “perfect”. This is what Liberals want. They want to shut down debate. This would not just be closure of debate at a stage. It would be shutting debate down at all stages, with no possibility for committee study or amendment. This is just an unconscionable attack on the processes that are supposed to defend the rights and liberties of Canadians and to defend good decision-making. How can the minister, if he really thinks this is a good bill, justify the most draconian use of shutting down a procedure that we have ever seen in the House, shutting it down not just at one stage but at all stages, with no possibility for debate, study or amendment?”

Statement grade

Average 78 / 100

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

Positioning 41%Claims 55%Reasoning 5%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 22 wordsI am stumped by the actions we just saw in the House from Conservatives, trying to adjourn the House for the day.Positioning Claims · 7 wordsThey just voted to adjourn the House, ¹Positioning · 20 wordsbut fortunately a majority of us are here to do the work and continue with the business of the House.Positioning Claims · 6 wordsWe voted that adjournment motion down.Off point Positioning · 17 wordsWe welcome the debate, in the case of this bill, to advance the work on housing supply.Positioning Claims · 7 wordsHousing is in a crisis across Canada, Reasoning · 9 wordsand we need to make sure affordability is paramount. Claims · 16 wordsThe bill is about investing $1.7 billion in provinces and territories to boost their housing supply.² Positioning · 7 wordsIt is a very simple, straightforward bill.Positioning Claims · 51 wordsThere have been hours of debate on it.³ We can contrast that opportunity for members to speak to the bill with what happened yesterday in the House, when the Conservative member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford filibustered for hours, preventing many other members from being able to speak in the debate in the House.⁴ Positioning · 13 wordsI know there are lots of games being played around adjournment and filibustering.Positioning Claims · 19 wordsThe bill is about getting funding to the people on the ground in our country who need affordable housing.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 51

5 of 9 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 “I am stumped by the actions we just saw in the House from Conservatives, trying to adjourn the House for the day.”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 “but fortunately a majority of us are here to do the work and continue with the business of the House.”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 “We welcome the debate, in the case of this bill, to advance the work on housing supply.”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 a very simple, straightforward bill.”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 “I know there are lots of games being played around adjournment and filibustering.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 63

4 of 9 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.

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 am stumped by the actions we just saw in the House from Conservatives, trying to adjourn the House for the day.”About the Conservatives’ adjournment motion, not the closure motion or Bill C-26.
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 just voted to adjourn the House,”About the Conservatives’ adjournment vote, not the closure motion or Bill C-26.
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 fortunately a majority of us are here to do the work and continue with the business of the House.”About who is present to carry on House business, not the closure motion or Bill C-26.
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 voted that adjournment motion down.”About the adjournment vote’s outcome, not the closure motion or Bill C-26.

Respect · 100

0 of 9 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 9 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 · 4

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“They just voted to adjourn the House”On June 16, 2026, during debate on Government Business No. 11 concerning Bill C-26, Conservatives voted in favour of a motion to adjourn the House for the day.search
2“investing $1.7 billion in provinces and territories”Bill C-26 authorizes $1.7 billion in payments to provinces and territories to boost housing supply.search
3“There have been hours of debate on it”There have been hours of debate on Bill C-26 before June 16, 2026.search
4“the Conservative member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford filibustered for hours, preventing many other members from being able to speak”On June 15, 2026, the Conservative member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford filibustered for hours in the House, preventing many other members from speaking in the debate.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20