Analysis · Debate reply · beta

John Brassard

Conservative on Government Business No. 9—Changes to Standing Orders 2026-04-23

152 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Karina Gould (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I have been here for over 10 years and I have seen a lot of theatrics in this place, but the drama coming from that last speech was a bit much even for that hon. member and the Conservatives. Speaking as if we are taking away members’ rights and their opportunities to be representatives is over the top. In fact, every member in this House has an important role to play. What the government is doing is acting on the fact that we now have a majority. I will put this to him because I did not actually get an answer from his House leader when I asked. If the Conservatives should ever, and we will see if that ever happens, find themselves in a situation where they have a majority government, will he commit right now to ensuring that the Conservatives do not hold a majority on committee?”

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.

Positioning 46%Claims 54%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 45 wordsI am sorry that the hon. member thinks that the passion I am showing for accountability and transparency, and for ensuring that the government acts in an ethical manner, is just theatrics. Nothing could be further from the truth.Unearned certainty I am very passionate about this.Positioning Claims · 82 wordsAs chair of the ethics committee, I am keenly aware of this topic.¹ We just dropped a report today on the Conflict of Interest Act.² Throughout the testimony on the Conflict of Interest Act, we heard some pretty disturbing things when it comes to blind trusts and ethics screens not being applied properly, like companies having $5.6 billion in unpaid taxes through offshore accounts.³ In the last little while, we have seen contracts, like the spaceport, handed out to Liberal family members.⁴Unearned certainty Positioning · 25 wordsI will make no apologies for being passionate about defending the rights of Canadians and making sure that ethical standards are met in this country.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 47

5 of 16 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 sorry that the hon. member thinks that the passion I am showing for accountability and transparency,”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 “and for ensuring that the government acts in an ethical manner, is just theatrics.”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 “Nothing could be further from the truth.”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 am very passionate about this.”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 will make no apologies for being passionate about defending the rights of Canadians and making sure that ethical standards are met in this country.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

9 of 16 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 sorry that the hon. member thinks that the passion I am showing for accountability and transparency,”Rebuts the description of his speech as theatrics instead of answering the commitment she asked for.
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 for ensuring that the government acts in an ethical manner, is just theatrics.”Continues the defence of his tone rather than addressing the question about future committee majorities.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Nothing could be further from the truth.”A further denial about his conduct, offering nothing on the commitment requested.
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 very passionate about this.”Restates his passion, not an answer to the yes-or-no question put to 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 “As chair of the ethics committee, I am keenly aware of this topic.”Shifts to his role on the ethics committee, a different subject from the question 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 “We just dropped a report today on the Conflict of Interest Act.”Reports on a committee study, not the question about committee composition under a majority.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Throughout the testimony on the Conflict of Interest Act, we heard some pretty disturbing things when it comes to blind trusts and ethics screens not being applied properly, like companies having $5.6 billion in unpaid taxes through offshore accounts.”Details ethics testimony and unpaid taxes, substituting a different topic for the commitment sought.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “In the last little while, we have seen contracts, like the spaceport, handed out to Liberal family members.”Raises contracts to Liberal family members, a separate subject from the question put.
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 will make no apologies for being passionate about defending the rights of Canadians and making sure that ethical standards are met in this country.”Closes with a general defence of his advocacy without answering whether he would forgo a committee majority.

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 · 78

2 of 16 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “Nothing could be further from the truth”An absolute denial asserted in place of any evidence about what is true.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “we have seen”An appeal to collective witness that replaces naming a source for the contract claim.

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“As chair of the ethics committee”John Brassard serves as chair of the House of Commons ethics committee.search
2“We just dropped a report today on the Conflict of Interest Act”The ethics committee tabled a report on the Conflict of Interest Act on 2026-04-23.search
3“companies having $5.6 billion in unpaid taxes through offshore accounts”Testimony before the ethics committee heard that companies have $5.6 billion in unpaid taxes through offshore accounts.search
4“contracts, like the spaceport, handed out to Liberal family members”A government contract for the spaceport was awarded to a Liberal family member.search

Analysed on 2026-09-16