Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Rebecca Alty

Liberal on Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act 2026-09-21

233 words · 11 sentences · 14 clauses

Replying to Jamie Schmale (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the minister for her speech. I hope she had a very productive summer. As said many times in this debate, we agree with the diagnosis that governments of all stripes over 155-plus years have fallen short on their commitments with indigenous people. What we disagree with is the prescription that the government is coming out with now. We agree with modern treaties. In fact, the Harper government signed six throughout its term from 2006 to 2015. What we have an issue with is that during committee we heard that there would be no guarantee, other than naming and shaming departments that are falling short on their commitments, that there would be fewer court cases. Also, through multiple Auditor General reports showing failures within both departments, ISC and Crown-indigenous relations, we have found years of failure but no correction. In fact, on May 4, 2006, we see, “Overall, Indigenous Services Canada did not effectively implement, monitor, or assess the New Fiscal Relationship initiatives it committed to with First Nation.” That was signed in 2016. This is a recent example. To the minister’s word, let us go from intention to implementation. Why have we not started already?”

Statement grade

B–

71 / 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 2%Claims 82%Procedure 3%Reasoning 7%The ask 6%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 4 wordsit is important work.Positioning Claims · 111 wordsHaving a commissioner for modern treaty implementation has been a call from modern treaty partners. As to the importance of the commissioner, they would be an agent of Parliament who would submit reviews and performance audits directly to Parliament.¹ It is really important to note that the whole-of-government approach the commissioner would be taking is an opportunity for them to make findings and recommendations regarding implementation and to really be able to work with modern treaty partners and government to improve our relationships. It is an opportunity to have findings and recommendations, to make sure they are public and to make sure we are reporting on the progress that is made.Partly on point Procedure · 6 wordsThat is a really important part.Procedure Claims · 15 wordsA lot of the audits may show the areas where we need to do work, Reasoning · 17 wordsbut it is equally important to show the areas where we have done a lot of work. Claims · 6 wordsThe commissioner would have that opportunity, The ask · 14 wordsand I encourage all members of the House to continue to support this work. Claims · 60 wordsAgain, this bill was co-drafted with modern treaty partners.² It is a call they have been asking Parliament to take up. It is also related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act action plan that the government has, specifically chapter 5, section 9, ³which states that the co-development of indigenous modern treaties is really important.Partly on 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 · 93

2 of 15 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 “it is important work.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “That is a really important part.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 41

13 of 15 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.

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 “it is important work.”A bare assertion that the work matters, giving no answer on why implementation has not begun.
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 “Having a commissioner for modern treaty implementation has been a call from modern treaty partners.”About support for the commissioner among treaty partners, not why implementation has not started.
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 “As to the importance of the commissioner, they would be an agent of Parliament who would submit reviews and performance audits directly to Parliament.”Describes the commissioner’s reporting role without addressing why work has not begun.
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 “It is really important to note that the whole-of-government approach the commissioner would be taking is an opportunity for them to make findings and recommendations regarding implementation and to really be able to work with modern treaty partners and government to improve our relationships.”About the commissioner’s whole-of-government approach, not the start of implementation.
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 “It is an opportunity to have findings and recommendations, to make sure they are public and to make sure we are reporting on the progress that is made.”About public findings and progress reporting, not why implementation has not started.
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 “A lot of the audits may show the areas where we need to do work,”About what the audits may show, not when implementation work will begin.
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 “but it is equally important to show the areas where we have done a lot of work.”About showing completed work, not answering why implementation has not started.
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 “The commissioner would have that opportunity,”Restates the commissioner’s opportunity without addressing the question asked.
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 “and I encourage all members of the House to continue to support this work.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “Again, this bill was co-drafted with modern treaty partners.”About how the bill was drafted, not why implementation has not begun.
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 “It is a call they have been asking Parliament to take up.”About treaty partners’ calls on Parliament, not the start of implementation.
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 “It is also related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act action plan that the government has, specifically chapter 5, section 9,”About the UNDRIP action plan’s connection to the bill, not why implementation has not started.
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 “which states that the co-development of indigenous modern treaties is really important.”About the action plan’s wording on co-development, not the timing of implementation.

Respect · 100

0 of 15 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 15 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 · 3

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“an agent of Parliament who would submit reviews and performance audits directly to Parliament”Bill C-10 provides that the Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation would be an agent of Parliament submitting reviews and performance audits directly to Parliament.search
2“this bill was co-drafted with modern treaty partners”Bill C-10 was co-drafted with modern treaty partners.search
3“It is also related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act action plan that the government has, specifically chapter 5, section 9, ”The government’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act action plan contains a chapter 5, section 9 addressing the co-development of modern treaties.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20