Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Gregor Robertson

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

199 words · 10 sentences · 13 clauses

Replying to Scott Aitchison (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, what I find most troubling about this particular bill is that it is not too dissimilar from the government’s Build Canada Homes creation, an agency created with $13 billion, with zero targets, zero metrics and no transparency. Nobody knows how it is really supposed to work or what it is going to do. It is just going to do non-market housing. The bill before us would involve $1.713 billion that the minister could spend at his whim. There is nothing in the bill about what the metrics would be nor what the housing needs are by province. It is just $1.713 billion, and the Minister of Finance could spend it however he chooses on housing supply. There would be no requirement for him to talk to the Minister of Housing. There would be no requirement for him to understand CMHC data on the need by province. It is nothing. It would just be a blank cheque for the Minister of Finance. The House is responsible for the public purse. Why would there be no scrutiny of the $1.713 billion?”

Statement grade

B+

Average 82 / 100

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

Procedure 8%Claims 35%Reasoning 14%Promise 43%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 15 wordsI think we need to look at what is happening in the member opposite’s province.Procedure Claims · 30 wordsOntario has been first out of the gate, accepting this funding and deploying it to eliminate the HST, for which members opposite have been calling for months, to take action.¹ Reasoning · 28 wordsI think both sides of the House agree we need to take action to get the housing market going in Ontario and B.C., where it has been stalled. Claims · 31 wordsThis has done that in Ontario. Ontario is a good example of making a good choice to eliminate the HST for this year and prime the pump on its housing market.² Promise · 44 wordsThat is an example of what we want to see across the country.Partly on point We would not be prescriptive with provinces and territories. We would be responsive to the needs across the country. We want to be sure that Ontario and B.C. markets are addressed, Claims · 9 wordsas they are in a state of relative crisis, Promise · 42 wordsbut we want to have flexibility with this too. It is a very simple next step and a statement of collaboration with provinces and territories that we would entrust them to do the right thing and take action to deliver on housing.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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I think we need to look at what is happening in the member opposite’s province.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 64

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 “Ontario has been first out of the gate, accepting this funding and deploying it to eliminate the HST, for which members opposite have been calling for months, to take action.”It recounts Ontario’s use of the funding for the HST, not why the bill contains no accountability measures.
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 “I think both sides of the House agree we need to take action to get the housing market going in Ontario and B.C.,”It states agreement that housing action is needed, not why the spending would go unscrutinized.
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 “where it has been stalled.”It describes stalled markets, not the accountability 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 “This has done that in Ontario.”It asserts Ontario’s funding did its job, not why the bill has no metrics.
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 “Ontario is a good example of making a good choice to eliminate the HST for this year and prime the pump on its housing market.”It praises Ontario’s HST choice as an example, not the question of scrutiny of the spending.
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 “That is an example of what we want to see across the country.”It says the Ontario approach is the model sought, not why oversight is absent from the bill.

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 · 75

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 “take action to deliver on housing”The speaker commits his side to action on housing without naming any measure, date or success condition.

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“accepting this funding and deploying it to eliminate the HST”Ontario has accepted federal funding under Bill C-26 and is using it to eliminate the HST on new housing.search
2“eliminate the HST for this year”Ontario is eliminating the HST for the year 2026 as part of its housing market measures.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20