Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Blake Richards

Conservative on Government Orders 2026-04-23

131 words · 6 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to William Stevenson (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked a lot about the committee and that sort of thing. The hon. member has the role of shadow minister. Could he explain some of the interventions he has had with people outside of the committee, such as the regular forces who have come to him and the everyday experiences he has had, back and forth, with them?”

Statement grade

D–

40 / 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 65%Positioning 35%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 72 wordsif I were to really summarize what I hear from veterans all the time, Vague promiseand I hear it frequently, it is probably summarized best in the words of former prime minister Justin Trudeau when he told veterans they were “asking for more than we [can] give”.¹ That is what veterans feel like they are being told by the government, consistently and constantly, that they are asking for more than we can give. Positioning · 46 wordsFrankly, we can never give enough. Our veterans, who serve the country, who are willing to lay down their lives for the country, deserve to be treated with respect. They deserve to have what they are entitled to for the service they gave to the country.Positioning Claims · 13 wordsRight now, they are not seeing it and they are expressing their alarm.Off point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 58

3 of 10 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 “Frankly, we can never give enough.”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 “Our veterans, who serve the country, who are willing to lay down their lives for the country, deserve to be treated with respect.”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 “They deserve to have what they are entitled to for the service they gave to the country.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 10

6 of 10 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 “and I hear it frequently, it is probably summarized best in the words of former prime minister Justin Trudeau when he told veterans they were “asking for more than we [can] give”.”A quotation from Justin Trudeau is a political attack offered in place of describing his own engagements with serving members.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That is what veterans feel like they are being told by the government, consistently and constantly, that they are asking for more than we can give.”This continues the attack on the government rather than recounting experiences with regular forces as asked.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Frankly, we can never give enough.”A general rhetorical flourish that does not answer what serving members have told him.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Our veterans, who serve the country, who are willing to lay down their lives for the country, deserve to be treated with respect.”A statement of general principle about veterans, not an account of his interventions with regular forces.
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 deserve to have what they are entitled to for the service they gave to the country.”Another general claim about entitlements that does not describe the everyday exchanges the questioner asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Right now, they are not seeing it and they are expressing their alarm.”A vague assertion of alarm that offers no concrete engagement or experience with serving members.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

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.

Clarity · 85

1 of 10 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 “if I were to really summarize what I hear from veterans all the time”An unsourced generalization about what veterans say with no measure or evidence offered.

Claims · 1

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“and I hear it frequently, it is probably summarized best in the words of former prime minister Justin Trudeau when he told veterans they were “asking for more than we [can] give”.”Former prime minister Justin Trudeau told veterans they were ‘asking for more than we can give’.search

Analysed on 2026-09-16